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Tinubu’s Remembrance of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni 8 Count for Little until Justice and Reconciliation is Allowed

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Tinubu’s Remembrance of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni 8 Count for Little until Justice and Reconciliation is Allowed

By: Michael Mike

A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) have said eulogies by President Bola Tinubu of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni leaders hung in 1995 after they were sentenced to death by a tribunal, count for nothing until proper justice and reconciliation is allowed in the old rich Niger Delta region.

The CSOs, which include Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Corporate Accountability and Popular Participation Africa, People’s Advancement Centre,
Kabetkeche Women Development Resource Centre and Lekeh Development Foundation, in a statement on Tuesday said the statement on Monday 11 November 2024 by President Bola Tinubu through his media aide honouring the memory of Ogoni leaders including Ken Saro-Wiwa who were killed in 1995 for leading the fight for ecological justice in Ogoni and the Niger Delta, where the President stated; “We honour their memory by recognising the sacrifices made and pledging to strive for a future characterised by peace, justice, and sustainable development for all communities, particularly those in the Niger Delta.” And where he equally admitted that “the subsequent struggles of Ogoni leaders to protect their environment from harmful oil exploration were met with severe repression, culminating in the tragic execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other leaders in 1995,” was commendable but action to ensure succour of the people of the area would have made more impact and a proper memorial to the slain martyrs.

The statement read: “As frontline civil society organisations focused on environmental justice, we are delighted that the President has deemed it appropriate to honour the memory of these martyrs of ecological struggle. We are particularly delighted that the President recognizes that they were murdered because they fought to protect their environment from harmful oil extraction activities that had polluted their lands and rivers; and poisoned their people.

“For clarity, it is important to note that the Nigerian military junta headed by General Sani Abacha authorized the hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine. The nine were instrumental in mobilizing Ogonis under the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), and had issued a set of demands contained in the Ogoni Bill of Rights which included calls to the Nigerian government to clean up the Ogoni environment and restore livelihoods of the indigenous people who had suffered decades of reckless oil extraction by Shell.

“MOSOP had called global attention to the poverty, neglect and environmental destruction which decades of oil exploitation had bequeathed the Ogoni people. MOSOP demanded fairer benefits to the Ogoni people from oil, as well as remediation and compensation for the ecological damage caused by the activities of Shell. Their selfless mobilization and campaigning led to the 1993 expulsion of Shell from Ogoniland. The military government responded to this genuine concern with widespread militarization of Ogoniland and the Niger Delta region, mass killings, arson and the eventual executions that left the world outraged. The nine were murdered after the recommendations of a stage-managed tribunal and denied the opportunity to appeal.”

The statement added that: “The statement by the President is the first time since the unfortunate events of 1995 that a government has admitted to the injustice of the killings and repression of the Ogonis. However, it is important that the President goes further in this effort at reconciliation and justice.

“As civil society organisations, we have consistently demanded an admission that the quasi-judicial process which resulted in the conviction of the Ogoni 9 was a mockery of justice orchestrated by the military government with the active collaboration of Shell to quell community demands for resource and ecological justice. What we continue to demand is the complete exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni 8. This is the only strategy that will bring closure to the thousands of Ogonis who were victims of government-driven repression characterized by murders, rape, torture and forced exile.

“It is important to also note that the body language and the actions of successive governments in Nigeria have not always indicated the need to reconcile and bring about closure. In 2015, a memorial artwork in the form of a bus, designed in memory of the executed Ogoni leaders by friends in the United Kingdom was confiscated by the Nigeria Customs Service. All appeals to the government to release this memorabilia, including an order by the National Assembly and a judgement by the Federal High Court in Lagos, was denied. The bus remains locked up by the Customs Service in Lagos for absolutely no reason beyond provocation.

“We are equally concerned that the Nigerian government continues to make frantic efforts to resume oil extraction activities in the oil wells located in Ogoni territory, after they were shut down in 1993. It is worrying that the government will decide to resume oil extraction when the pollution of the last decades is yet to be cleaned, and the recommendations of UNEP are yet to be fully complied with. How does one explain the fact that a site supposedly being cleaned up will resume full oil extraction activities with all the pollution that comes with it?

“We are deeply concerned about the neglect of key issues around ecological and social justice in Ogoniland. The world recognizes that the people of Ogoni have suffered unprecedented pains and losses on account of oil extraction. No apology has been rendered for the destruction of their environment, the killing of their people, the loss of their livelihoods, the destruction of their villages, the forced exile of their people and the murder of their leaders.These issues must be fully addressed and measures put in place to protect the environment from further devastation.”

The statement advised that: “Flowing from the foregoing, it is our recommendation that the government puts a stop to any attempt to resume oil activities in Ogoniland. It should rather concentrate on remediating the ecological disaster in the area, decommissioning aged oil infrastructure, replacing the lost livelihood of the people and securing justice for the countless Ogonis waiting for closure. We also call on the government to release the Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial Bus, a sculpture which was confiscated by the Nigeria Customs Service and has been detained for years now for no just cause. This is the time to learn from the Ogoni situation, take note of how difficult remediation and restoration processes can be and commence the steps needed to clean up the entire Niger Delta.”

Tinubu’s Remembrance of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni 8 Count for Little until Justice and Reconciliation is Allowed

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Army Troops neutralise Malam Jidda, ISWAP ameer in Borno and recover arms

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Army Troops neutralise Malam Jidda, ISWAP ameer in Borno and recover arms

By:Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces have intensified their ongoing counterterrorism offensives across the North East, neutralising a top terrorist commander and recovering assorted weapons in multiple operations.

Zagazola Makama was reliably informed that the troops, in a special operation conducted at Ngazalgana village, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe, made contact with terrorists and neutralised Malam Jidda, identified as the Ameer (leader) of Ngorgore and Malumti villages.

The sources said the troops recovered weapons from the slain commander, including AK-47 rifles, magazines and a motorcycle used by the terrorists for mobility.

“In another operation on the Timbuktu Triangle axis, a snap ambush team deployed by troops engaged Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) elements in a swift and decisive encounter.

“Some of the terrorists were neutralised, while troops recovered additional AK-47 rifles and various categories of ordnance,” one of the sources said.

Similarly, in Abadam axis of northern Borno, troops conducting exploitation following a recent encounter in Mallamfatori continued to recover more bodies of terrorists and an assortment of abandoned weapons.

“The terrorists fled in disarray, leaving behind weapons of different calibres after the ferocious counterattack by the gallant troops,” the source added.

The ongoing operations are part of coordinated efforts by the Nigerian military to degrade terrorist enclaves and restore stability to affected communities across the North East.

Army Troops neutralise Malam Jidda, ISWAP ameer in Borno and recover arms

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NCoS Says 59,786 Inmates Captured by NIMC Platform

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NCoS Says 59,786 Inmates Captured by NIMC Platform

By: Michael Mike

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has revealed that 59,786 inmates out of
the total of 80,879 inmates’ population, representing 74 percent across the country, have been captured into the NIMC platform.

The NCoS gave the information on Sunday in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Umar Abubakar, in reaction to publication claiming non-commencement of National Identity Number (NIN) registration in 256 Custodial Centres across the nation.

Abubakar, in the statement, sad: “The attention of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has been drawn to a recent publication by a section of the media alleging that the National Identity Number (NIN) registration exercise is yet to commence in all custodial centres across the country. This report is misleading, inaccurate, and does not reflect the current state of affairs within our custodial facilities.

“The Service wishes to categorically state that the NIN registration of inmates in our custodial centres is not only ongoing but has recorded significant progress. A majority of inmates across various custodial centres nationwide have already been successfully enrolled into the National Identity Database through the collaborative efforts of the Service and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
Available data show that as at 7thJune, 2025, out of the total of 80, 879 inmates’ population, 59,786 inmates approximately 74% have been captured into the NIMC platform.

“The registration of the remaining inmates is actively in progress, and mechanisms have been put in place to ensure its seamless completion.

“The claim that the registration has “yet to commence” in custodial centres is factually incorrect and fails to acknowledge the substantial work already done.”

Abubakar assured that: “The Service remains committed to the full integration of inmates into national data systems, including the NIN, as part of broader efforts to promote rehabilitation, reintegration, and the digital inclusion of all persons in custody.

“The Service therefore urges members of the media to verify information with relevant authorities before publication, in order to avoid spreading misinformation that may mislead the public and undermine ongoing institutional efforts.”

NCoS Says 59,786 Inmates Captured by NIMC Platform

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Menstruation Is Not a Taboo — It’s Time the World Treated It That Way

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Menstruation Is Not a Taboo — It’s Time the World Treated It That Way

By: Ann Eyi-ojotule James

Every single day, more than 300 million women and girls around the world are
menstruating. Yet, for something so natural and vital to human reproduction,
menstruation remains cloaked in shame, silence, and stigma, particularly in
many parts of the world where girls are taught to hide, suppress, or be
embarrassed by their monthly flow.
This narrative needs to change. And we must start by calling it what it is: a human rights issue.
On May 28, 2025, in commemoration of Menstrual Health Day, I visited Government Girls Secondary School Wuse, Abuja Nigeria to speak with young girls about menstruation. The stories I heard were heartbreaking and far too common. One girl, looking both nervous and vulnerable, told me she felt ashamed and embarrassed whenever she was on her period. This should never be the case. I looked her in the eyes and said, “Your menstruation is not a curse. It is a sign of your strength and health as a woman. Hold your head high, you have nothing to be ashamed of.”
That single moment reminded me why this advocacy matters. For far too long,
society has painted menstruation to be painted as dirty, sinful, or shameful. It
has held girls back from school, from sports, from social life, and, most dangerously, from realizing their full potential.
The Hidden Realities of Period Poverty
An estimated 500 million women and girls globally lack access to basic menstrual products and adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene management (MHM). That’s not just a number, it’s a life-altering reality. During one of my menstrual health outreaches, a group of girls told me they
couldn’t dry their reusable sanitary towels outside because it’s considered a
taboo in their community. Imagine being forced to dry your sanitary cloth in
dark, damp places, out of sight, just to avoid judgment. The result? Increased risk of infections, particularly Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), that harm thousands of girls every year simply because they’re not
allowed to hang their laundry in the sun.
This is not just a health crisis. This is a gender inequality crisis.
My advocacy goes beyond distributing sanitary pads — it’s about transforming
mindsets. It’s about affirming to every girl that she matters, not despite her period, but because of it. Her menstruation is not a limitation; it’s a reflection of her strength, resilience, and womanhood. And it doesn’t stop with the girls. We need the boys in this conversation too.
Educating boys and men about menstruation is crucial to breaking the stigma. When we empower communities with accurate information and open
dialogue, we begin to build a world where menstruation is normalized, not
feared or mocked.
The Way Forward: A Call to the Global Community
We must treat menstrual health as a public health priority and a fundamental
human right. It is time for governments, organizations, schools, and families
to come together to:
Increase access to menstrual hygiene products for all girls and women,
especially in low-income and rural areas.
Integrate menstrual education into school curriculums — for both girls
and boys.
Create safe, stigma-free environments where girls can manage their
periods with dignity.
Invest in community outreach that confronts and dismantles harmful
taboos and cultural practices.
Menstruation should not be a barrier to education, health, or dignity. It should
never be a source of shame or silence. It’s time the world recognized that periods are powerful — and so are the girls and women who have them.
Let us stand together — educators, activists, policymakers, parents, and allies
— and build a world where every girl knows: her period is not her weakness. It
is part of her power.

Written By;
Ann Eyi-ojotule James
Founder/E.D: Edureach Africa
edureachafrica1@gmail.co

Menstruation Is Not a Taboo — It’s Time the World Treated It That Way

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