Human rights group, Amnesty International has called for an investigation into the activities of Shell, the oil company for alleged crimes committed by Nigeria’s military in the 1990s.
In a statement the group said hell is complicit in alleged “horrific crimes” committed by the military in a crackdown, leading to killings and the destruction of villages in the oil-producing Ogoniland region.
Amnesty international accused Shell of encouraging the atrocities. “The evidence we have reviewed shows that Shell repeatedly encouraged the Nigerian military to deal with community protests, even when it knew the horrors this would lead to – unlawful killings, rape, torture [and] the burning of villages,” the rights group said in a statement.
Amnesty further said that “In the midst of this brutal crackdown Shell even provided the military with material support, including transport, and in at least one instance paid a military commander notorious for human rights violations. That it has never answered for this is an outrage,” it added.
The Anglo-Dutch oil firm has rejected the claims saying in a statement that “We were shocked and saddened when we heard the news of the executions. Shell appealed to the Nigerian government to grant clemency.”
“To our deep regret, that appeal, and the appeals made by many others within and outside Nigeria, went unheard,” Shell further said.
Amnesty said the UK, the Netherlands and Nigeria must launch an investigation into Shell’s alleged complicity in human rights abuses in Ogoniland.
Source: Africafeeds.com
