In Nigeria, environmental workers are facing threats and violence as they work to safeguard natural resources and the local environment. These attacks have been on the rise, often leading to unreported incidents out of fear for the safety of the victims, their families, and their property. Mr. Clifford Edevie, the Executive Director of the Clean Climate and Environment Campaign Initiative, a non-governmental organization focusing on environmental issues, expressed concern about the safety of workers in the field.
He highlighted the ongoing attacks on environmental defenders in Nigeria, emphasizing that many are now hesitant to continue their work due to the fear of being harmed or even killed by those benefiting from environmental crimes. Instances of land grabbers in the southwest region of Nigeria, Fulani Herdsmen in the north, as well as oil companies and their supporters in the Niger Delta were mentioned by him. Edevie also reflected on the courageous actions of Ken Saro-Wiwa, a notable Environmentalist from the Niger Delta, who fought against environmental destruction caused by oil companies and tragically met his demise.
Reports detailed instances of mistreatment, fear tactics, & physical harm.
His words echoed the exploitation rampant in Southwest Nigeria by land grabbers, the presence of Fulani herds in the north, and the relentless harassment faced by environmental advocates in the Niger Delta by oil companies and their allies. Ken Saro-Wiwa, the renowned environmental activist from the Niger Delta, is unforgettable for his fierce opposition to the ongoing environmental destruction caused by oil companies in the region. Tragically, he paid the ultimate price for his activism with his life. Insiders from the Niger Delta area, who requested to remain unidentified, disclosed that they have faced violence and intimidation while advocating for environmental causes.
One informant detailed being menaced by a chief executive officer of a large multinational corporation, as well as experiencing surveillance with their phone tapped and encountering suspicious individuals trailing them. Another informant recounted their residence being targeted by enforcers of polluting companies after they organized a campaign for cleaner air. The reports detailed instances of mistreatment, fear tactics, and physical harm inflicted by those responsible for causing environmental harm, such as local leaders, armed groups, and corporations. It was stressed that these incidents are a regular occurrence in their everyday interactions and activities.
They are pressing the government to crack down on environmental offenses.
Environmentalists are demanding greater safeguards and assistance for individuals working to protect the environment. They are pressing the government to crack down on environmental offenses and guarantee a secure workplace for those defending the country’s natural assets. According to a recent report, the individual mentioned that his residence was targeted by individuals upset about Pollution issues. This incident occurred shortly after the team conducted a clean air campaign during the 2024 Clean Air Awareness Week.
The poor air quality was attributed to the Emissions from Manufacturing facilities, particularly those in the industrial regions of Ikorodu, Lagos. SEFAAI, Sustainable Environment Food and Agriculture Initiative, shared the challenges faced while trying to mediate a land dispute between farmers, Fulani herdsmen, and land grabbers in Oyo State and Imota, a suburb of Lagos state. The organization described the culprits’ aggressive and dangerous response to their efforts to address environmental degradation. A number of their associates were forced to escape and relocate to a more secure area.
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An anonymous member of the Connected Advocacy team shared a story of being harassed by community elders who had benefited from environmental pollution caused by Multinationals and local oil companies. The activist and their family were targeted for organizing protests against oil spillage and gas flaring, as well as for exposing the elders’ unethical actions through published reports. He described being held by militants affiliated with oil companies, enduring severe beatings, and receiving a warning to stop any activities that could disrupt the oil companies’ work in the Niger Delta region.