The execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa took place on Friday, November 10, at Port Harcourt, South Eastern Nigeria in 1995. Born as Kenule Beeson Saro Wiwa, Ken was accused of the murder of Ogoni Chiefs and was given an unfair trial by a special military tribunal along with eight other activists of his organization (Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP)).  Although the trial and execution of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa occurred twenty years ago, it is still apparent that the environmental and poverty related problems of the people of the oil-rich regions of Nigeria have not been alleviated or solved in any meaningful way.

Ken’s execution drew widespread condemnation both locally and abroad and many personalities and organizations had called for his release but the military regime of General Sani Abacha decided to go ahead with the execution. South African President and Nobel Peace Prize winner at that time, Nelson Mandela stated that his delegation would call for Nigeria’s suspension from the Common Wealth until a democratic government was elected and eventually Nigeria was suspended from the organization. U.S President Bill Clinton had also withdrawn his envoy to Nigeria and put an end to military operations. In 2009 the multinational oil corporation Royal Dutch Shell (commonly known as Shell) agreed to pay 15.5 million dollars as compensation to the Ogoni people (including Ken’s family) who had been represented by Ken.

Although Ken’s movement was non-violent it was brutally crushed by Sani Abacha’s  military reigme. Military General Sani Abacha ruled Nigeria for 5 years and his regime was marked by widespread human rights violations. Many activists were summarily executed as force was prioritized and the possibility of dialogue that posed a threat to the regime was refuted.  However in 2006 a congregation of militant groups came under the banner of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) and violently continued what Ken had started non-violently. MEND was mainly involved in high profile kidnappings, destruction of pipelines and attacks on major installations. The group called for oil royalties for the people and when another attempt for peaceful dialogue with Ken was abandoned, it ushered in more militant groups which included Ijaw Youth Council, the Niger Delta Vigilantes, Dokubo Asari and Ateki Tom. The activities of these groups lead to massive loss of human life and a 28% reduction between 2006 and 2009 in oil production and the closing down of many oil installations.

Even though there is an air of appeasement reigning in the area now, the underlying causes of the Niger Delta uprising have not been treated. Instead amnesty has been offered to the fighters; some have accepted while others have turned it down. Now, thousands are on the streets, protesting for a similar course. The Nigerian government can learn from the U.S’s experience in 2010 where it did not allow any uprising but rather settled the matter with BP Oil through peaceful negotiations.