By UZOMA AHAMEFULE, Vienna, Austria

The Niger Delta Initiative Austria (NDIA) led by Mr Nyerhovwo Eriema held a peaceful protest outside the Nigerian Embassy in Vienna. Participants called for justice for the 'Ogoni Nine' and pressed for the cleanup of the Niger Delta following decades of environmental destruction caused by oil operations.

The peaceful protest commemorated Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists who were executed in 1995 under the late Nigerian military ruler General Sani Abacha. The executions followed processes widely condemned as sham trials.

Eriema stated that the federal government’s pardon of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists implied an admission of guilt, a suggestion he firmly rejected. “They were never guilty,” he insisted, calling on the government of Nigeria to officially declare them innocent and warning that, without such justice, “Nigeria will not know peace.”

Protesters accused Shell and other multinational oil companies of relentlessly polluting the land, water and air. They branded this pollution an ecocide and a crime against humanity. They accused Shell and other multinational oil companies of reckless, unregulated operations that endanger lives and livelihoods, labelling the Niger Delta a danger zone because of pollution. They also condemned the Nigerian government for standing by as the crisis deepens unchecked.

The protesters called for an immediate end to pollution, a full cleanup of Ogoni land, and justice for affected communities. “The era of environmental impunity must end. We demand justice, restoration, and accountability – not tomorrow, but now,” they declared.

They expressed unwavering solidarity with the people of the Niger Delta, pledging to amplify their voices on the global stage until those responsible are brought to justice.

“We have come to show our solidarity and stand united in the fight for justice until it is achieved,” they chorused.

The operations of Shell and other multinational oil companies in Nigeria have caused extensive environmental damage, triggering an ecological crisis that endangers human life and dignity. Decades of exploitation have devastated local communities. Once-thriving fishing and farming industries have collapsed, leaving people without livelihoods and eroding traditional ways of life. This profound harm has made communities vulnerable, and this relentless destruction can no longer be tolerated. It is imperative that the Nigerian government acts immediately, not only to safeguard the environment but also to shield the communities of the Niger Delta from further devastation. It is a responsibility that cannot be ignored.

•Uzoma Ahamefule, a concerned patriotic citizen, and a refined African traditionalist, writes from Vienna, Austria. He can be reached via uzomaah@yahoo.com; +436607369050 (Please, WhatsApp messages only)