ABSTRACT
The Niger Delta crisis became violent when after several decades of unfruitful dialogues, Isaac Boro introduced “armed struggle” on February 23, 1966 (Boro 1982). Whereas Boro’s rebellion was “crushed” by the federal government after twelve consecutive days of gun battle, the cycles of violence continued and peaked in Ogoni Kingdom in 1995. It started with the killing of four prominent second-generation Ogoni leaders, namely, Albert T. Badey, Edward Kobani, Samuel N. Orage, and Theophilus Orage allegedly by members of the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP). Those killed are popularly referred to as the “Ogoni 4.” This was followed by the arrest, trial, and execution of nine other leaders, including Ken Saro-Wiwa by Justice Auta’s Panel on November 10, 1995. The second group is further referred to as the “Ogoni 9.”
