|
ERA SPECIAL TESTIMONIES: SHELL KILLS AGAIN IN OGONI By PATRICK NAAGBANTON
ERA SPECIAL UPDATE REPORT AFTERMATH OF YORLA OIL SPILL: SHELL KILLS AGAIN IN OGONI SUBJECT: MURDER OF OGONI YOUTH: SHELL WORK WITH POLICE DISPATCHLINE: KPEAN AND BUAN, KHANA LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL, OGONI, RIVERS STATE
FROM: DATE: JULY 8, 2001 HIGHLIGHTS - The spill still not cleaned - Shell adopts their usual divide and rule - Killing of Ogoni youth, Shell linked BRIEF In the wake of the devastating blowout at the Yorla oil field, ERA issued a detailed field report number 78 on May 8, 2001, titled, "SPDC oil blow-out heightens famine crisis in Ogoniland" which spelled out the ecological and socio-economic dangers the spill posed to the rural people and their economy. Since then, ERA has monitored closely the situation up to the extra-judicial killings of Mr. Friday Nwiido, and the media campaigns by Shell and the police. In this special update report, ERA presents what the local peoples are saying as Environmental Testimonies. Hear the sad voices of Green Barinem (a youth leader), Mrs. Alice Nwiido (Mother of late Friday Nwiido), Chief Nwoke Wikune (the Paramount ruler of Buan Community) and Mrs Waaka Nwiido (Wife of late Friday Nwiido). "At Yorla, the spill is still flowing, destroying our farmlands and polluting our rivers, Shell only corked their wellheads to stop it from flowing from their facility, but the lost products are still travelling, destroying our crops especially now that, the rain is falling heavily" - Green Barinem (Youth Leader) "My late son, Mr. Friday Nwiido as a security guard for Shell. When he told me about the job with shell, I encouraged him since he was the only breadwinner for the family and my "husband", since my real husband died some years ago. He hails from here, Buan community in Ken-Khana kingdom of Ogoni. He was 31 years old and married with 3 daughters. Throughout the entire Ken- Khana he was popular and loved by all, because of his sincerity. He was a hardworking man. After my son had worked for Shell throughout the time of the Yorla explosions, Shell refused to pay my son. As a tactics to get his money from Shell, my son and his friend, one Igbo man who is a driver with Shell (whose salary was not paid too), collaborated and drove the Shell big van into this community, and parked it just by the roadside. Few days after, officials of Khana local government council, Shell and policemen came here and went straight to the paramount ruler's house, I don't know what they discussed. By then, my son had gone to work for a construction company - Homan, in a nearby community. My son was not around when the delegation came here on June 14, 2001. The next day fully armed mobile policemen and some conventional ones came here in 10 police vans. It was around 8.00am they started by shooting teargas canisters and live bullets indiscriminately. I don't know who called my son. He suddenly, reappeared from his workplace and walked into the invading force with his hands raised in surrender. As he came he was shouting, "I am the one, I didn't hijack any vehicle, Shell is owing me and I want my money." He cried as the police fired live bullets at him at close range. He was hit on his thighs several times. He fell down, bleeding profusely. He was carried from the ground by one of the police officers and dumped in the boot (trunk). I hired a car immediately and followed the police who were retreating after killing my child. When they noticed that we were following them, they stopped us. We diverted and monitored them up to the police station at Bori, Ogoni. I saw when Shell vehicles stopped and entered the police station. The police held brief talks with Shell and Khana local government officials. From there, we moved to Port Harcourt. My son was crying in pains as they drove on. Some of the police vans had left the convoy remaining some unmarked cars. It was when they stopped over in Shell clinic at Rumukrushi, Port Harcourt that I missed my way. I went to the military hospital where they told me that there was no body like that. I visited all the government and Shell hospitals in Port Harcourt but I could not find my son. It was at the Shell hospital somebody I will not mention his name, told me that really the boy was brought there alive and after several secret talks with the medical personnel, they transferred him to the Mini-Okoro police station. At Mini-Okoro, another reliable source told me that the boy was executed on Saturday and that the people who were present during the shooting were the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Area Commander, one man nicknamed Ahoada and 2 others. To confirm the source, I was told that, the corpse was deposited at the mortuary of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). I went there and saw the corpse of my son. I then went back to report all my ordeals to Hon. Emmanuel Deeyah, Commissioner for special duties in Rivers State. I told the commissioner that I want to see the Governor, Dr. Odili, since I voted for him. On 29 June 2001, Deeyah held a meeting with us in his office. Present at that meeting were our village head, elders, youths and the chairman of Khana local government council, Hon. Letam Korsi. The Ogoni commissioner blamed those who attended for allowing the poor boy to die. Up till now I am still waiting for the corpse of my son. I want to bury him, as I said to the police when they arrested and tortured me for a day, I still maintain my stand that the police, Shell, council officials, and the village council are all responsible for my child's death. I will say these things anywhere, any day. Please, quote me anywhere, I have read what Shell and the police are saying in the Nigerian media, they are all liars." -Mrs. Alice Nwiido (Mother of late Friday Nwiido) "Youths from this village are threatening to burn my palace and deal with me for betraying Mr. Friday Nwiido. The deceased was my cousin. How can I have a hand in his death? On the 13th of June 2001, the police invited me to their station. I only talked while one of the policemen wrote it down. Look at the statement. I didn't call the police; they just came and disturbed the people of my community. I have reported to the police and the government about the threat. I am afraid." - Chief Nwoke Wikune (Paramount ruler of Buan Community) "Since my mother-in-law told me of my husband's death. I have been sick and have packed from my husband's house to my mother-in-law's place. I am afraid." - Mrs Waaka Nwiido (Wife of late Friday Nwiido)
|