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September 30, 1998

Drilling and Killing: Chevron and Nigeria’s Oil Dictatorship

Democracy Now! documents for the first time Chevron’s role in the killing of two Nigerian activists. The San Francisco-based oil company helped facilitate an attack by the feared Nigerian Navy and notorious Mobile Police (MOPOL). In an interview with Democracy Now!, a company spokesperson acknowledged that on May 28, 1998, the company transported Nigerian soldiers to their Parabe oil platform and barge in the Niger Delta, which dozens of community activists had occupied. The protesters were demanding that Chevron contribute more to the development of the impoverished oil region where they live.

Soon after landing in Chevron-leased helicopters, the Nigerian military shot to death two protesters, Jola Ogungbeje and Aroleka Irowaninu and wounded several others. Eleven activists were detained for three weeks.

During their imprisonment, one activist said he was hung from a ceiling fan hook for hours for refusing to sign a statement written by Federal authorities.

Chevron is the third largest oil producer in Nigeria.

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