The outcome of social movements in Non-Western countries has been given little notice in the literature. In particular, there is scant attention to the outcome of protest activities in the Niger Delta. The argument develops through systematic analysis of the trajectories and outcomes of two protest movements in the Niger Delta; the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People and militant movements. Both movements emerged in response to broadly similar conditions: political marginalisation and environmental despoliation. While Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People preferred non-violent disruptive grassroots mobilisation; the militant movements ab initio adopted armed insurrection. The militants occupy the difficult but vast watery, swampy mangrove vegetation of the Niger Delta. Their knowledge of the difficult terrain was exploited with devastating effectiveness against government troops. This vast and difficult terrain provided safe spaces in which they could plan and mount surprise attacks against oil facilities and armed troops.