Ken Saro-Wiwa, 8 Others Sentenced to Death by Hanging
On October 31, 1995, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists were sentenced to death by hanging by a tribunal established under General Sani Abacha's military regime. The activists, known collectively as the "Ogoni Nine," were accused of inciting violence that led to the deaths of four Ogoni chiefs.
Their trial, widely condemned for its lack of due process, was marked by allegations of witness intimidation and judicial bias. Saro-Wiwa, a prominent environmentalist and author, had campaigned against the environmental devastation of Ogoniland by multinational oil companies. The tribunal's verdict drew global outrage and increased Nigeria's isolation on the international stage.
Also on this day in 1907, the Yaba Lunatic Asylum was established in Lagos, making it Nigeria's first formal mental health institution under British colonial rule. Built to house and treat individuals with mental disorders, it laid the foundation for organised psychiatric care in the country.
Though the early conditions were rudimentary, and approaches reflected the colonial mindset, the institution has evolved significantly over the years. Today, known as the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba aka Yaba Left, it remains an important centre for mental health treatment in Nigeria.
Other key events on this day
1. Satoshi Nakamoto published a paper introducing Bitcoin - 2008
2. Benito Mussolini (Il Duce) became premier of Italy - 1922
3. 25 people killed during Ghana-Ivory Coast soccer match - 1993
4. EgyptAir flight 990 crashed 60m off coast of Nantucket, killing 217 - 1999
5. Violet Palmer became first woman to officiate an NBA game - 1997
6. Stalin's body removed from Lenin's tomb - 1961
7. Celebrated magician, Harry Houdini died - 1926
8. Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi was assassinated - 1984
9. Day of 7 billion: The world's official population reached 7 billion on this day - 2011
10. Famous singer, Beyonce announced a call for donations and support for the #EndSARS protests - 2020
12. Western Nigeria Television, the first television station in Africa, began transmission in Ibadan - 1959.
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