The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) was formed in 1993 by Ken Saro-Wiwa (SAPA News Agency 22 Nov. 1995; Sunday Times 12 Nov. 1995). Described as a militant wing of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), it was reportedly created in order to stop any new oil projects by Shell and other prospectors (SAPA News Agency 22 Nov. 1995).

Some reports have accused NYCOP of conducting terrorist acts inside the country (The Ethnic News Watch 28 Nov. 1995 while moderate like Garrick B. Leton, the first president of MOSOP, who accused group of becoming Mr. Saro-Wiwa's "private vigilante army," criticised NYCOP for deviating from the original tone of MOSOP(The New York Times 13 Feb. 1995; Sunday Times 12 Nov. 1995).

NYCOP, rejecting any compromise with Shell Petroleum that would allow the resumption of oil exploitation in Ogoniland, has demanded the withdrawal of all military and paramilitary troops stationed in Ogoniland 'before any meaningful negotiation can take Place (Africa News May 1996).

NYCOP denied the traditional rulers the authority to negotiate with the government and claimed that only discussions involving MOSOP can be binding on the Ogoni (ibid.). It also accused the elders of taking money from Shell and the government (Africa News Apr. 1996; Daily Telegraph 11 Nov. 1995).

Some sources reported that incited by Ken Saro-Wiwa, members of NYCOP participated in the assassination in Goikoo of four Ogoni traditional chiefs in May 1994 (Sunday Times 12 Nov. 1995; West Africa 13-19 Nov. 1995, 1756).

The Independent refers to the interruption of Shell's operations in Ogoniland in mid-1993 "in the face strident MOSOP protests," without referring specifically to NYCOP (29 Oct. 1995).

The attached article from African Affairs provides background information about Ogoni people and their conflicts with the government and the oil companies, Shell in particular.

No information on Chief Michael Adafor Nwafor could be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Africa News. May 1996. Wisdom Dike. "Nigeria Youth To Shell 'No, Not Yet!'" (NEXIS)

_____. April 1995. Chris McGreal. "Nigeria Ken Saro-Wiwa: Not Entirely Innocent?" (NEXIS)

The Daily Telegraph. 11 November 1995. J. Anderson and M. Smith. "Champion Who Sought a Fair Deal; Execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa: Revulsion at 'Judicial Murder of Writer Who Sacrificed Popular Success to Fight for His People."

The Ethnic News Watch. 28 November 1995. Vol. XXXVIII, No. 1. William Reed. "Nigeria's Case Against Ken Saro-Wiwa." (NEXIS)

The Independent. 29 October 1995. Karl Meier. "Nigeria Dissident Faces Death Penalty; the Sham Trial of Ogoni Activist Ken Saro-Wiwa has Angered International Jurists." (NEXIS).

The New York Times. 13 February 1996. Paul Lewis. "Blood and Oil: A Special Report; After Nigeria Represses, Shell Defends Its Records." (NEXIS)

SAPA News Agency (Johannesburg, in English). 22 November 1995. "Nigeria; Government Says Executions Followed 'Painstaking' Judicial Process SAPA Report." (BBC Summary 23 Nov. 1995/NEXIS).

Sunday Times. 12 November 1995. Donu Kagbara. "To Hell with Abacha and His Tinpot Dictatorship." (NEXIS)

West Africa. 13-19 November 1995. Bola Owolo. Sari-Wiwa Convicted."

Attachments

African Affairs. [Oxford] 1995. "The Ogoni Uprising: Oil Politics, Minority Agitation and The Future of the Nigerian State," pp. 325-344.

Africa News. May 1996. Wisdom Dike. "Nigeria Youth To Shell 'No, Not Yet!'" (NEXIS)

_____. April 1995. Chris McGreal. "Nigeria Ken Saro-Wiwa: Not Entirely Innocent?" (NEXIS)

The Daily Telegraph. 11 November 1995. J. Anderson and M. Smith. "Champion Who Sought a Fair Deal; Execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa: Revulsion at 'Judicial Murder of Writer Who Sacrificed Popular Success to Fight for His People," (NEXIS)

The Ethnic News Watch. 28 November 1995. Vol. XXXVIII, No. 1. Reed William. "Nigeria's Case Against Ken Saro-Wiwa." (NEXIS)

The Independent. 29 October 1995. "Nigeria Dissident Faces Death Penalty; the Sham Trial of Ogoni Activist Ken Saro-Wiwa has Angered International Jurists, Karl Maier in Lagos Reports." (NEXIS).

The New York Times. 13 February 1996. Paul Lewis. "Blood and Oil: A Special Report; After Nigeria Represses, Shell Defends Its Records." (NEXIS)

SAPA News Agency (Johannesburg, in English). 22 November 1995. "Nigeria; Government says Executions Followed 'Painstaking' Judicial Process." (BBC Summary 23 Nov. 1995/NEXIS).

Sunday Times. 12 November 1995. Donu Kagbara. "To Hell with Abacha and His Tinpot Dictatorship." (NEXIS)

West Africa. 13-19 November 1995. Bola Owolo. "Saro-Wiwa Convicted," p. 1757.