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Report on the Second Anniversary of the Ogoni Nine The second anniversary of the judicial murder of the Ogoni 9 tagged" OGONI LIBERATION DAY'97" was successfully held in Ogoni on Nov.10, amidst a web of security network of the Rivers State Internal Security Task Force and other operatives that enveloped the entire Ogoni land with the sole aim of aborting the anniversary. About 50,000 demonstrators chanting songs in unmistakable terms to the effect that neither intimidation,arrest,imprisonment nor death could break their resolve, the ogoni people skilfully beat the security forces to their tricks.Alternating four venues, they effectively dribbled the operatives and a mammoth crowd of the aged and the young, men,women and children from all over Ogoni assembled at zaakpon in Khana Local Government Area to commemorate the second anniversary of the killing of the MOSOP leader,KEN SARO-WIWA and eight other Ogoni compatroits. The occasion commenced with a candle light procession with the participants sporting black vests bearing KEN'S potrait with the inscription "MARTYRS DAY'97". MOSOP solidarity songs expressing solidarity with the late MOSOP president, Ken Saro-Wiwa and all those who were hanged with him 2 years ago, including all those who have been killed in the various military raids on Ogoni villages, vowing to continue the the struggle until ultimate victory is achieved. Shell and the government were also cursed and accused of planning a final decimation of remnants of the Ogoni population to achieve easy re-entry into Ogoni. They also vowed to non-violently stop shell's return even if it means laying down their lives. The message by the Acting president, Mr. Ledum Mitee to mark the occasion was read whilst short speeches by activists were also entertained. Speaker after speaker urged the people to remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice, noting that the ideals for which Ken and others paid the supreme sacrifice must not be in vain. They also urged the people to resist any attempt by Shell to return to Ogoni until they have dialogued with the right representatives of the people and met the Ogoni demands as contained in the Ogoni Bill of rights. Placards denouncing the roles of Shell and the Nigerian military junta in tjhe judicial murder of the Ogoni 9 and all those Ogonis who have been killed on the course of the MOSOP struggle were carried. SECURITY SITUATION Security build up in Ogoni started a week to Nov.10, with heavy security concentration of troops in strategic towns like Bane-Ken's home town, and Kegbara Dere-Ledum Mitee's home town. Troops of the internal Security Task Force maintained patrols in virtually all Ogoni villages during the nights preceding the Nov.10 anniversary with the patrols intensified on the eve of Nov.10 thereby forcing most people indoors, an imposing an unofficial dusk to dawn curfew on the villages. A week to the Nov 10 anniversary date the Internal Security Task force commenced a crackdown on MOSOP activists ans suspected sympathisers of the of the Ogoni cause, harassing, torturing,arresting and detaining persons from accross Ogoni and Ogoni and Port Harcourt. Those arrested include:Mrs Monima Kogbo and Miss Happiness Kogbo, mother and sister respectively of Mr. Sunny Kogbo, president of National Union of Ogoni Students, Mr Chris Asigbo, a final year student of the university of Port Harcourt who was abducted from his hostel room at the " Abuja Park" of the university inthe early hours of Tuesday 5th Nov by a combined team of plain cloth security operatives and men of the Internal Security Task Force, and detained at Bori camp military barracks, Port harcourt. So also was Mr.Innocent Needu of Taabaa. Government, through an announcement aired through the state radio station ( radio Rivers2 ) banned all meetings and gatherings in Ogoni especially in Gokana kingdom. On Saturday Nov 8 Major Obi Umahi,head of the Internal Security Task Force, followed up, forcing paramount chiefs, community Development Community members and other chiefs to meeting at kpor. There he warned them of the consequences that will befall them should they not be able to to prevail on their subjects not to commemorate Nov 10.On sunday Nov 9 Major Obi led a troop of armed soldiers to Ogoni villages assembling villagers at their respective squares warning people not to come out on Nov 10. He said no church services,or gatherings of any nature should be held, threatening to shoot at sight any one found sporting black attire.Villagers were also warned to remain indoors throughout Nov.10. No one was to be allowed to go afishing or farming. At Bera on Nov. 10, Mr. Barifaa Sunday, a 37 year old man who went on that day to tap palm wine was arrested by major Obi Umahi himself and was taken to Kpor for detention and subsequently released on Tuesday Nov 11. Major Umahi also also personally led troops that laid ambush at a Bera farmland, on the rumour that the people were planning to hold the Nov 10 rally on the farmland to evade security network in the village. But the Bera people had finished the rally before Major Umahi and his troops could arrive on the scene. Umahi also supervised patrols in other kingdoms and stayed the night at Bori. At Wiyaakara in Ken Khana kingdom, troops of the Internal security task force also raided the area subjecting anyone in sight to intense torture, on hearing that a MOSOP rally was held there in remembrance of the fallen heroes. At Kaani, a stone throw from Bori main town, the internal security task force also raided the area ,and beat up people, after hearing that the Nov 10 anniversary rally was also held there. Apart from the central rally, individual villages also held rallies and candle lit processions. The security omslaught was not restricted to Ogoni. In Port Harcourt, security agents raided the ND-HERO (Niger Delta Human and Environmental Rights Organosation) and Oil Watch offices, and residential houses of members of these organisations. Dr M.T Akobo and an aide were arrested and detained and later released. The houses of Mr. Stanley Worgu, Mr.Felix Tuodolor, secretary and human rights directoe respectively of the ND-HERO, Mr., Isaac Osuaka and Patrick Nagbanton were not spared. Nwibari Nwako Up to Top HOME | Email Signup | About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | © 2008 Sierra Club |
