The Ogonis are a minority ethnic group of approximately 500,000 people in Rivers state in Eastern Nigeria whose homeland is spread across three local government areas: Gokana, Khana, and Tai-Eleme. The three localities roughly coincide with the boundaries of the Ogoni sub-groups which speak different dialents of the Ogoni language. The sub-groups are further divided into six clans–Nyo Kanana, Ken Khana, Babbe, Gokhana, Tai, and Eleme–which amongst them hold together 111 villages (African Affairs 1995, 326-7).

Rivers state reportedly produces the bulk of Nigeria's crude oil, the country's main source of revenue, but the Ogonis allegedly "belong to the ranks of the most backward, and politically marginalized groups in the country" (ibid.).

In 1990, the leaders of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) reportedly presented the Ogoni Bill of Rights to the federal government (ibid.). The Ogoni leaders demanded self-determination and the right to control their political affairs and to have "a fair" share of the economic resources derived from Ogoni land (ibid.)

For corroboration and additional information on the Ogoni people, please see the attached document from Africa Affairs which describes the whole context of the Ogoni people, the July 1995 Human Rights Watch/Africa report entitled "Nigeria: The Ogoni Crisis," and the numerous Responses to Information Requests on the same subject, which are available at your Regional Documentation Centre.

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.

African Affairs. 1995. Eghosa E. Osaghane. Vol. 94. "The Ogoni Uprising: Oil Politics, Minority Agitation and the Future of the Nigerian State.

African Affairs. 1995. Eghosa E. Osaghane. Vol. 94. "The Ogoni Uprising: Oil Politics, Minority Agitation and the Future of the Nigerian State, 325-344.