FILE - Protesters march to remember the 10th anniversary of a military junta's execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa at the city of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba, File)
SA SVZ RAJ**LON**ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — ±·¾±²µ±ð°ù¾±²¹â€™s President Bola Tinubu has posthumously pardoned nine environmental activists executed 30 years ago by the then-ruling military junta, drawing sharp criticism and anger from activists who argued on Friday that the individuals committed no crime.
During an event Thursday to mark the 26th anniversary of return to democracy, Tinubu pardoned the “Ogoni Nine,†including celebrated writer , and described them as “national heroes.â€
The men were convicted of murdering four local chiefs and were hanged in 1995 by the then-military regime led by Gen. Sani Abacha. They were part of the Ogoni ethnic group in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, and had protested in the region by multinational oil companies, particularly Shell.
Their trial and murder sparked international outrage at the time, with rights groups calling it unjust and lacking credible evidence.
Local rights and civil society groups described Tinubu's pardon as misleading and “insulting.â€
“A pardon is given to people who have been convicted of wrongdoing," said Ken Henshaw, executive director of local rights group We The People.
Henshaw said the process leading to their execution did not prove that they were guilty of the allegations against them. “For him (Tinubu) to say he wants to pardon them is a misnomer,†he added.
The Nigerian government must also recognize formally that the murdered activists are “innocent of any crime and fully exonerate them,†said Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International ±·¾±²µ±ð°ù¾±²¹â€™s director.
“Full justice for the Ogoni Nine is only a first step," said Sanusi. “Much more needs to be done to get justice for communities in the Niger Delta, including holding Shell and other oil companies to account for the damage they have done and continue to do.â€
____
Follow AP’s Africa coverage at:
°µÍø½ûÇø. All rights reserved.
Confirmation of the first human case of West Nile virus acquired in Canada this ye…
Confirmation of the first human case of West Nile virus acquired in Canada this ye…
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
