Thirty years after the execution of environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders, the Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF) has called on the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to order the immediate release of the Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial Bus, which has been held by the Nigerian Customs Service at the Lagos Port since 2015.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the group described the prolonged seizure as “a violation of the Ogoni people’s right to commemorate their history and an affront to the memory of their martyrs.”
The OYF warned that the bus must be released before November 30, 2025, a date that marks three decades since the execution of the Ogoni Nine.
“These men were not criminals. They were defenders of justice who stood against the destruction of Ogoniland and the oppression of minorities across the world,” the statement read.
The memorial bus—commissioned in 2005 by Platform-London and designed by renowned sculptor Sokari Douglas Camp (CBE)—was conceived as a mobile monument dedicated to the courage and sacrifice of the Ogoni Nine. It was intended for installation in Bori, Rivers State, to educate future generations about their legacy and struggles for environmental justice and human rights.
However, the Federation lamented that for ten years, the bus has been “unjustly detained” despite repeated appeals for its release.
“The continued impoundment is a moral injustice. It dishonours the legacy of our heroes and undermines freedom of expression,” OYF stated, quoting the sculptor’s own words that the memorial represents “a call for freedom of expression to honour those who fought for justice in Ogoniland.”
OYF President-General, Engr. Legborsi Yamaabana, reaffirmed the group’s commitment to non-violence, environmental protection, and human rights advocacy, urging the Federal Government to demonstrate respect for history and justice.
“History is watching. The world is listening. The time to act is now,” the statement concluded.
The demand by the Ogoni Youth Federation underscores the enduring struggle for environmental and social justice in the Niger Delta, as the community continues to press for recognition and respect for the legacy of Ken Saro-Wiwa and his fellow activists
