Amnesty International has called out the Nigerian government over President Bola Tinubu’s recent “pardon” of the Ogoni Nine, saying it falls far short of justice. The group described the move as nothing more than a PR stunt meant to score political points on Democracy Day.
🧾 Who Are the Ogoni Nine?
The Ogoni Nine were a group of environmental activists from the Niger Delta who stood up against Shell and the Nigerian government in the 1990s. They protested the massive environmental damage caused by oil drilling in Ogoniland.
But instead of justice, the activists were arrested, tried in a controversial military tribunal, and executed in 1995. The most prominent among them was Ken Saro-Wiwa, a well-known writer and activist.
Now, 30 years later, President Tinubu has issued a posthumous pardon to the group — but human rights groups like Amnesty International say this is not enough.
⚖️ “Where Is the Justice?” – Amnesty Fires Back
Isa Sanusi, the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said the pardon is just “eye service” because the government is not addressing the real problem — holding Shell accountable and cleaning up Ogoniland.
According to him, if the Nigerian government is truly sorry for what happened, then they should:
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Make Shell take full responsibility for the oil pollution
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Ensure a proper cleanup of the land
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Provide justice and compensation to affected communities
🌍 Shell’s Long History of Pollution
The numbers don’t lie:
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Between 2010 and 2020, over 17.5 million litres of oil leaked from Shell-related pipelines.
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Over 13,500 people from the Niger Delta have filed lawsuits against Shell.
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In many international courts, Shell keeps winning cases by using tactics like selling off assets, dodging responsibility, or delaying court proceedings.
In fact, since 2021, some Niger Delta communities have been in a legal battle with Shell in the UK, but the oil company continues to drag the case like slow network.
Last year, Amnesty International and 40 other global NGOs signed an open letter exposing Shell’s role in environmental damage and injustice in Nigeria.
🛢️ Amnesty’s Final Word?
“This pardon is not justice,” Amnesty said. “The government must go beyond speeches and take real action.”
🔚 Conclusion:
A pardon that doesn’t solve the root problem is just for show. Until Shell is held accountable and Ogoniland is fully cleaned up, the wounds of the Ogoni Nine remain open.
