ABUJA: Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has officially pardoned environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, nearly 30 years after his execution drew international condemnation. Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other campaigners, known as the Ogoni Nine, were hanged in 1995 by Nigeria’s former military regime after being convicted of murder.
Their deaths sparked global outrage, with many believing the executions were punishment for their opposition to oil companies, especially Shell, operating in the Niger Delta’s Ogoniland.
Shell has consistently denied any involvement in the events that led to the executions.
While the recent pardons have been praised by some, others including activists and relatives of the deceased say the action does not go far enough to correct a historic injustice.
As part of Nigeria’s Democracy Day commemorations on Thursday, President Tinubu not only granted the pardons but also awarded national honors to all nine men.
Those honored include Ken Saro-Wiwa, Barinem Kiobel, John Kpuinen, Baribor Bera, Felix Nuate, Paul Levula, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, and Daniel Gbokoo.
These men were posthumously recognized for their roles in advocating for environmental rights and justice in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
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The Ogoni Nine were among many environmental activists calling for accountability from multinational oil companies accused of polluting local ecosystems. Saro-Wiwa, a well-known Nigerian author and leader of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), had led peaceful protests against Shell and other oil firms.
MOSOP welcomed the presidential pardon as a courageous act,yet stressed that the activists should have never been convicted, stating no crime ever took place. The group believes the pardon wrongly implies guilt.
Barinem Kiobel’s widow, who also welcomed the honor, echoed similar concerns. She urged the Nigerian president to formally declare the men innocent, noting that a pardon is not given to someone who did no wrong.
Amnesty International also weighed in, saying the clemency falls far short of the justice the Ogoni Nine need. The human rights group urged Nigeria to hold oil companies accountable for ongoing environmental degradation in the Niger Delta.
The execution of the Ogoni Nine followed a closed military tribunal that convicted them of involvement in the killing of four Ogoni chiefs’ charges that rights groups and international observers labeled as politically motivated and unjust.
Their deaths elevated global awareness of environmental abuse and repression in oil-producing regions. As a result, Nigeria was suspended from the Commonwealth at the time.
Shell, the oil company at the center of the controversy, has faced multiple lawsuits related to oil spills and ecological damage in the Niger Delta. In 2021, a Dutch court ordered Shell to compensate Nigerian farmers affected by pollution. The company paid over $100 million.
Earlier this year, legal representatives for two Ogoniland communities appeared before London’s High Court, arguing Shell was responsible for pollution between 1989 and 2020. Shell denies the allegations, attributing oil spills to theft, sabotage, and illegal refining. A full trial is expected in 2026.
Ken Saro-Wiwa remains a symbol of resistance against environmental exploitation in Nigeria. His legacy continues to influence both local and international discussions on environmental justice, corporate responsibility, and human rights in oil-rich regions.
