Dokument #1122091
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
According to Amnesty International, 18
supporters of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People
(MOSOP) were detained by the Nigerian authorities in order to
prevent them from meeting with representatives of the United
Nations mission (16 Apr. 1996).
The United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) stated that hundreds of Ogoni fled the government
oppression in Ogoniland to neighbouring Benin where they requested
asylum (AFP 29 Mar. 1996; Reuters 9 Apr. 1996). Same key MOSOP
figures were reportedly among the refugees (AFP 29 Mar. 1996)
For further information on MOSOP, please
refer to Responses to Information Requests NGA23871.E of 16 May
1996 and NGA23735.E of 25 April 1996 available at Regional
Documentation Centres. The DIRB publication Current Information on
the Ogoni, Including Information on the Trial and Execution of Ken
Saro-Wiwa, which is also available at Regional Documentation
Centres, includes information on MOSOP and the Ogoni people for the
period between May and February 1996.
The attached Boston Globe article of 7
April 1996 provides a brief history of the deterioration in
relations between the Ogoni people, the Shell Oil company and the
Nigerian government.
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
Agence France Presse (AFP). 29 March
1996. "Ogoni Fleeing Nigeria to Benin After Execution: UN."
(NEXIS)
Amnesty International. 16 April 1996.
Urgent Action: Nigeria: Fear of Ill-Treatment. (AI Index: AFR
44/07/96). London: Amnesty International.
Reuters. 9 April 1996. BC Cycle.
"Nigeria's Ogoni Hit by Protests during U.N. Visit." (NEXIS)
Agence France Presse (AFP). 29 March
1996. "Ogoni Fleeing Nigeria to Benin After Execution: UN."
(NEXIS)
Amnesty International. 16 April 1996.
Urgent Action: Nigeria: Fear of Ill-Treatment. (AI Index: AFR
44/07/96). London: Amnesty International.
Boston Globe. 7 April 1996. Wil Haygood.
City Edition. "In Ogoniland, the Last Days and Legacy of Ken
Saro-Wiwa." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 9 April 1996. BC Cycle.
"Nigeria's Ogoni Hit by Protests during U.N. Visit." (NEXIS)