Historical Figures

Brief Biography Of Ken Saro-Wiwa who was executed by Abacha’s Militia

Ken Saro Wiwa
Ken Saro-Wiwa

Who Was Ken Saro-Wiwa?

Kenule (Ken) Beeson Saro-Wiwa was a Nigerian writer, activist and TV presenter born on the 10th of October, 1995 to an Ogoni chief, Jim Wiwa.

Ken Saro-Wiwa was a member of the Ogoni people, a minority tribe in Nigeria. His homeland, Ogoni land, situated in the Niger Delta has been a target for crude oil extraction since 1950 and thus suffer from environmental damages from the dumping of petroleum wastes.

Ken Saro-Wiwa and children L-R Zina, Tedum and Noo 1982 Port Harcourt - Source: Noo Saro-Wiwa
Ken Saro-Wiwa and children L-R Zina, Tedum and Noo 1982 Port Harcourt – Source: Noo Saro-Wiwa

Ken was also the president of MOSOP (Movement of Survival of the Ogoni People) which led a non- violent campaign against the environmental degradation of Ogoni land by the petroleum industries, especially the Royal Dutch Shell company.

Ken Saro-Wiwa's Trial
Ken Saro-Wiwa’s trial

During the non-violent campaign, Ken Saro-Wiwa was arrested and tried by a military tribunal for allegedly leading and planning the murder of some Ogoni chiefs at a pro- government meeting.

He was later executed alongside 8 other MOSOP leaders by hanging on the 10th of November, 1995, by the military dictatorship of General Sani Abacha.

This provoke international anger and resulted in Nigeria’s suspension from the Commonwealth of Nations for over three years.

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Cite this article as: Teslim Omipidan. (May 28, 2019). Brief Biography Of Ken Saro-Wiwa who was executed by Abacha’s Militia. OldNaija. Retrieved from https://oldnaija.com/2019/05/28/ken-saro-wiwa/

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