Drilling and Killing: Landmark Trial Against Chevron Begins Over Its Role in the Niger Delta

Chevron claims force was used to defend the platform from a violent assault and hostage-taking by the protesters.
It’s is being sued under the Alien Tort Claims Act, which allows foreign nationals to take legal action over crimes against them overseas.

In a moment we’ll be joined by two human rights activists involved in the case, but first I want to turn to an excerpt of the documentary, “Drilling and Killing.” Democracy Now correspondent Jeremy Scahill and I traveled to the Niger Delta to investigate Chevron”s role in the killings. In the documentary, a Chevron official acknowledged to us that on May 28, 1998, the company transported Nigerian soldiers to the Parabe oil platform.

This is an excerpt of “Drilling & Killing.”

"Drilling & Killing

An excerpt of “Drilling and Killing”, my documentary with Jeremy Scahill on Chevron”s role in violence against Nigerian villagers.

We go now to San Francisco where the lawsuit against Chevron is being heard. I’m joined by two guests. Laura Livoti is the Founder of Justice In Nigeria Now. And Omoyele Sowore is a longtime Nigerian human right activist, arrested and tortured by the Nigerian military government for his political activities. He runs the Nigeria news website SaharaReporters.com"

Laura Livoti, Founder of Justice In Nigeria Now.

Omoyele Sowore, longtime Nigerian human right activist, arrested and tortured by the Nigerian military government for his political activities. He runs the Nigeria news website SaharaReporters.com"