In 1999, the town of Odi in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, became the site of a horrifying massacre carried out by the Nigerian military. This tragic event took place amidst an ongoing conflict over indigenous rights to oil resources and environmental protection in the Niger Delta region. It is widely believed that the massacre was ordered by the regime of former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

The military justified their actions by claiming they were ambushed on their way to Odi, leading to increased tensions before the massacre, a gang had murdered twelve members of the Nigerian police near Odi, serve as a retaliation for which the military chose to invade the village. However, conflicting reports suggest that the army was ambushed close to the village, resulting in intensified tensions.

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The military forces broke through the alleged ambush and encountered armed militias in the village, who were suspected of using the civilian population as cover. This, combined with the provocation of the supposed ambush, triggered an attack on the civilian population and the annihilation of the town’s buildings, leaving only the bank, Anglican church, and health center standing. The massacre occurred during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s reign.

Estimates of the civilian death toll vary, with Human Rights Watch suggesting that “several hundred dead are entirely possible.” Nnimmo Bassey, the Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action, claims that almost 2500 civilians were killed. The government initially reported the death toll as 43, including eight soldiers.

In 2013, the Federal High Court ordered the government to compensate the Odi community and Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa state with a sum of N37.6 billion. Justice Lambi Akanbi of the Federal High Court condemned the government for violating the fundamental human rights of the victims, demanding swift payment within three weeks. As a result, the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration provided N15 billion as part of a court settlement.

The Odi Massacre stands as a dark chapter in Nigeria’s history, where innocent civilians became victims of a brutal military attack. The aftermath of this tragedy serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting human rights and seeking justice for those affected by violence.