ABSTRACT
The Niger Delta has acquired the dubious distinction of being one of the most polluted places in the world. This did not happen by accident. This is the outcome of over six decades of merciless exploitation, crass ecological misbehaviour, and blatant environmental racism. The Niger Delta has over the years become the playground of transnational and national oil companies who damage the environment and lay waste to the peoples without any restraint or compunction. This is nothing less than a reign of terror visited on the oil field communities. In this chapter, we focus on two instances of this fossil fuel terrorism: the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders on 10 November 1995 and the Jesse pipeline fire tragedy of 17 October 1998. These two instances illustrate the deep trauma caused by the destruction of nature, including people, at the hands of oil corporation operatives. These instances show what social relations are responsible for this ongoing terrorism and point to the urgent need for an ecosocialist transition. For the survivors of massacre, executions, and pollution to have a fighting chance of living in dignity, the pollution from the petroleum extractive activities must urgently be remediated across the Niger Delta.
