Ogoni Boils! Massive Protest Erupts Over Oil Exploration, Groups Vow To Resist Operations

A massive protest erupted in Ogoni as over 30 advocacy groups, led by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), took to the streets demanding justice for Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Eight.

The activists, executed in 1995 for their environmental activism, remain central to the debate on oil resumption in Ogoniland. Protesters insisted that any attempt to restart oil production must include MOSOP, the group that played a pivotal role in Shell’s 1993 exit from the region.

Demonstrators held placards with messages such as “Clear Ken Saro-Wiwa’s Name Now,” “No to Forceful Oil Resumption,” and “Justice for Ogoni 9,” declaring that without exoneration, oil operations would not be allowed.

Speaking at Peace Park in Bori, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke warned that oil exploration in Ogoni could not proceed without the group’s involvement.

“There will be no oil resumption in any part of Ogoni without MOSOP’s input,” Nsuke declared. “We reject any decision imposed on us without our consent. We will resist any attempt to sideline us.”

He emphasized MOSOP’s commitment to environmental justice and human rights, asserting that the organization had always advocated for oil exploration under fair conditions.

“MOSOP initiated this struggle and was the first to call for oil resumption in Ogoni—not the political class,” he stated. “We will not be silenced or excluded. Any such attempt will be lawfully resisted.”

Nsuke called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to halt the oil resumption process initiated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and establish an inclusive approach that considers the views of the Ogoni people.

Demand for Exoneration, Not Pardon

Similarly, National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) President, Comrade Barinuazor Emmanuel, stressed that Ken Saro-Wiwa’s legacy must be honored through exoneration, not just a pardon.

“Ken Saro-Wiwa was never guilty of any crime,” Emmanuel declared. “He was a hero who fought for the Ogoni people’s rights, and his name must be cleared.”