Born 10 October 1941 Bori , Nigeria
Died 10 November 1995 (aged 54)
Cause of death:Executed
Ethnicity Ogoni
Occupation Writer
Movement Movement for the Survival of
the Ogoni People
Awards Right Livelihood Award
Goldman Environmental Prize.
Died 10 November 1995 (aged 54)
Cause of death:Executed
Ethnicity Ogoni
Occupation Writer
Movement Movement for the Survival of
the Ogoni People
Awards Right Livelihood Award
Goldman Environmental Prize.
Writer, publisher, businessman and human rights crusader and leader of Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni people ( Mosop ), became a household
name across the world when he and eight other men were hanged by the Nigerian junta of General Sani Abacha.
He was one of the most strident critics of the Nigerian governments neglect of the oil- producing Niger Delta region, particularly the long-suffering Ogoni people that he led. He became an icon of the human and civil rights
movement in Nigeria. He was also famed internationally as an environmental activist, for his non-stop struggle towards a better life and a
cleaner environment for all.
name across the world when he and eight other men were hanged by the Nigerian junta of General Sani Abacha.
He was one of the most strident critics of the Nigerian governments neglect of the oil- producing Niger Delta region, particularly the long-suffering Ogoni people that he led. He became an icon of the human and civil rights
movement in Nigeria. He was also famed internationally as an environmental activist, for his non-stop struggle towards a better life and a
cleaner environment for all.
In May 1994 Saro-Wiwa, who had been briefly imprisoned several times before, was abducted from his home and jailed along with other MOSOP leaders in connection with the murder of four
Ogoni leaders. Amnesty International adopted Saro-Wiwa, a staunch advocate of non-violence, as a prisoner of conscience. Meanwhile, the
Nigerian military took control of Ogoniland subjecting people to mass arrest, rape, execution and the burning and looting of their villages.
In October 1995 a military tribunal tried and convicted Saro-Wiwa of murder. Governments and citizens' organizations worldwide condemned
the trial as fraudulent, and urged the Nigerian dictator to spare Saro-Wiwa's life. They also called upon Shell to intervene. On November 10, 1995 Saro-Wiwa and his eight co-defendants were hanged. The only crime he and his colleagues had committed was to
demand sound environmental practices and to ask for compensation for the devastation of Ogoni territories.
Ogoni leaders. Amnesty International adopted Saro-Wiwa, a staunch advocate of non-violence, as a prisoner of conscience. Meanwhile, the
Nigerian military took control of Ogoniland subjecting people to mass arrest, rape, execution and the burning and looting of their villages.
In October 1995 a military tribunal tried and convicted Saro-Wiwa of murder. Governments and citizens' organizations worldwide condemned
the trial as fraudulent, and urged the Nigerian dictator to spare Saro-Wiwa's life. They also called upon Shell to intervene. On November 10, 1995 Saro-Wiwa and his eight co-defendants were hanged. The only crime he and his colleagues had committed was to
demand sound environmental practices and to ask for compensation for the devastation of Ogoni territories.
