On this day in 1995 Ken Saro-Wiwa was executed by the Nigerian government. Officially, Saro-Wiwa and eight others were convicted of being responsible for the murder of four Ogoni tribal chiefs, but virtually everyone involved regards the hangings as a political rather than judicial act. Saro-Wiwa and the others had been too outspoken in their campaign to obtain a measure of self-determination and prosperity for their Ogoni people, and had accused too many -- federal politicians, tribal chiefs, Shell oil -- of having their fingers in the "lootocracy" pie. When they could not be bribed, blackmailed or beaten into keeping quiet, they were hung, their bodies buried in a secret, common grave ... FULL STORY »
