Black November (2012) - full transcript
A volatile, oil-rich Nigerian community wages war against their corrupt government and a multi-national oil corporation to protect their land from being destroyed by excessive drilling and spills. To seek justice, a rebel organization kidnaps an American oil executive and demands that his corporation end the destruction and pollution. Inspired by true events, Black November is the gripping story of how a community rises up and takes drastic measures to make sure their voices are heard.
What about Europe?
Well, just get it done.
- Driver, is this the fastest way to the airport?
- - Yes, sir.
Daddy, you're always
so stressed when you
head back to Nigeria.
Yeah, well, nothing
ever works, does it?
I've been standing here
for an hour,
and I've seen nobody.
But she's
to be hung today.
I mean, how do I know they're
even in the United States?
I think they're here.
So, how did you and your men
find a way into the US?
How did you get visas?
We found our way
to Mexico.
The rest is history.
Okay, if "Ebiery" Perema
is to be hung today,
then why are you--
Ebiere Perema.
Why are you not
in Nigeria?
Why are you not
in Nigeria?
Tamuno.
Here they come.
It's a very stressful place.
Trying to straighten
everything out there.
Everybody's got
their own agenda. Everybody's
fillin' up their own pockets.
Get out!
Come on! Move, move!
Get down!
Let's go, let's go!
Let's get out of here
now, now.
Let's go, let's go!
Come on, come on.
Hurry up. Hurry up!
Stop wasting time.
Get down. Down!
Move it!
No!
Sir, sir. Hey, hey.
I can see him
across the street.
Hey, you got a lot
of people in there!
Unit 304, code seven
back on now.
- You must document this.
- You set me up!
We are not bad people.
We do not want to
hurt anybody.
How do you explain this?
This is Cindy Charles
reporting live
with Channel 8 News.
We're at the corner
of 2nd and Figueroa,
where we have what appears
to be an extreme bomb threat.
A group of terrorists
have just taken innocent
civilians hostage--
men, women and children
here at the 2nd Street tunnel
in downtown Los Angeles.
We have a SWAT team on site
as well as the LAPD.
We have not yet determined
their purpose or who they are.
You gotta move it up.
Whatever your reason,
it doesn't justify this.
This is the only language
the West understands.
That's crazy.
This
is for your people
to know the truth!
How are you getting out of this?
Have you thought about that?
That is our problem,
not yours!
You ask me
why we're here.
We are here
to save Ebiere.
Team Leader, we're in position.
It's been several
hours since the terrorists
took the hostages.
We still have no communication
inside the tunnel.
We have no idea who they are
or what they want.
It's Washington again, Barb.
Workin' every angle, Bob.
What can I tell you?
Anything new?
Nothing yet.
Who the hell
are these guys?
Nothing on the wire.
No contact yet.
- Nothing.
- Ma'am, the team is ready
when you are.
I'm not going in
until I know what
I'm dealing with.
I got here
as soon as I heard.
What do you got?
This was just posted
on their Web site.
They're called
the United People's Front
for the Emancipation...
for the Niger Delta People
of Nigeria.
How in the world
did they get in this country
without us knowing?
None of them were ever on
any of our terrorists' list.
We should have
seen this coming.
Here we go.
- What do we know
about these people?
- That's the problem. Nothing.
We need answers.
- What are their demands?
- They're live.
My name is Tamuno Alaibe,
and I am the leader
of the United People's Front...
for the Emancipation
of the Niger Delta People
of Nigeria.
We have Tom Hudson,
CEO of Western Oil.
If Ebiere Perema hangs
in Nigeria today,
the guilty
will go with her.
Fifty percent of our oil
comes to the United States.
One out of every five
Americans...
uses Nigerian oil.
We export crude oil
to you people...
only to import
refined oil.
Why? Because Western Oil
and our corrupt government...
wouldn't allow
our refineries to work!
The United States government
does not negotiate
with terrorists.
All right, people.
Listen up.
I want everything
on everyone in there.
Now.
How are they
broadcasting this?
Kristy Maine is inside.
What?
- There has to be
a better way than this.
- My people are dying!
Our lands are devastated!
Our farmlands, livestock,
wildlife.
Women and children, go!
Not you. Sit down!
She has nothing
to do with this.
You cannot blame me
for your government.
I am not blaming you
for my government.
I am blaming you
for you.
Maintain position
near entrance.
You will get on the phone
and stop the execution.
You are in bed
with our government.
No. I only represent
my company in Nigeria.
No! You represent
most our government's
income!
They will listen to you!
Well, you know
your head of state, right?
He answers to no one.
He needs you
and your money.
Well, if anything
happens to me,
I'll just be replaced
by another one and another one
and another one.
- You will try.
- Let the hostages go.
Maybe the US government
will listen to you.
- Maybe they'll do something.
- It's too late for that.
It's not too late.
Ebiere is about to die,
and the world
knows nothing of her.
I know of her.
And what have you done?
Do you want
to tell your story?
Do you want
to tell the world?
Ebiere Perema
is a true daughter
of the Niger Delta.
Push now.
Hey! It's a girl!
♪
♪
Cheese!
♪
♪
Where are my children?
Look, listen.
I want you to gather as many
pails and buckets as you can.
Yes, Mama!
Because I hear
the pipelines are leaking again.
Go out behind the yellow bus.
Okay, Mama!
Hey!
Happiness,
where are you going to?
There's another
broken pipeline
out there.
I told you,
I don't want you
to go there.
What do you want me to do?
We need this oil to cook with.
God, look at this.
Look at this. Ah.
Look at this.
You are all under arrest.
- What is our crime?
- Stealing.
- Stealing?
- This oil is the property
of the government of Nigeria.
So what would you
rather we do,
stand by and watch
the property of the federal
government of Nigeria...
spill and spoil
our land?
It is your duty
to report any leakages
in the pipeline.
But we did last week,
and no one came yet
to do anything about it!
I warn you not to continue.
What would you do?
Shoot me?
Which is worse--
watch oil float
past your house...
and yet, in three days,
you cannot get one gallon
of what your federal government
cannot make available?
Huh?
Continue!
Take the oil! Take oil!
Mama?
Mama?
Oh, my God! Ebiere's back!
Ebiere!
Ebiere!
How are you?
How are you?
Where is Mama?
She's at the pipelines.
There has been
another leakage.
Tragedy struck today
outside of Warri...
in Nigeria's Niger Delta.
A Western Oil pipeline
transporting gasoline exploded,
killing over 1,000
women and children...
and leaving dozens more
seriously injured.
This is
the fourth such explosion
in under a decade,
and accusations
have already been made
on both sides...
as to who is responsible
for the disaster.
How would you expect
the people to sit back...
and watch gas and oil
flow freely without getting
some for themselves?
The oil companies
and federal government
must pay for this!
Many here are concerned
that this may escalate
tensions...
between Niger Delta residents
and the oil companies
that operate here...
in an oil-rich region
already torn apart...
by environmental disaster
and human suffering.
My Bubu die!
They are being cheated.
They are being marginalized.
It is the fault of the people,
and that was stealing.
They deserve it.
Only God knows how the fire
came about.
Oh, my God.
I-It was great stuff.
I mean, great stuff.
But we need more.
It's a gold mine.
Get as many interviews
as you can.
Yeah, the camera
right on it, on everything.
There's never enough.
Their pain, their feelings.
Everything about this.
We'll get it all.
The real deal.
More of it, more of it.
It's so powerful.
Oh, my God.
We are outside
of the town hall in Warri...
in Nigeria's Delta state...
to witness a meeting
between members of the Niger
Delta's oil interests...
and its local communities.
Nigeria is the fifth-largest
producer of oil in the world.
It is also home to a population
of over 100 million people...
living on less
than four US dollars a day.
My people have visitors
in our midst.
Our people say...
the owl never flies
by sunlight...
unless it is pursued...
by an aggrieved hunter.
Are you getting this?
In this case,
who is the owl,
or who is
the aggrieved hunter?
That is
at your understanding...
and discretion.
We have come here
not only to offer you
condolence,
but to offer you
and your community...
compensation for
your irreplaceable loss.
We are now at a situation which
requires critical decisions.
Do we compensate
each family for their loss,
or do we compensate
the entire community?
Let our money
be given to us
individually.
Let it be given
to the community!
We can use it
for infrastructure.
No!
Move in on her.
Is there no man
to speak for your family?
I wish the fire
had kept them alive.
Besides, do men feel pain
differently from women?
This is not a matter
for women.
Then you will have to
regard me as a man.
Good show. Good show
you put up here.
Another wonderful way
of pitting family
against family.
Or would I say
man against man?
You come here,
enriching yourselves
from the spoils of our land.
In the process,
wiping out families
and generations.
Yet you keep
the fire burning.
Give the people a rest,
and they will rely on you.
What they do
is give us sickness
and then treat us.
They make us hungry,
and then feed us.
They kill our loved ones,
and then offer us money
for burials.
Can you not see
their plan?
Yes.
It is high time
you start to think
more of the people...
other than your selfish,
fat pockets...
as well as that
of your goons and cohorts.
That's true.
If you do not
change your ways,
the people will rise.
Yeah! Yes!
Excuse me. Excuse me.
You're a new face
in the debate
over the Niger Delta.
Are you here to ask
the people to rise?
I'm not a new face.
I'm just one of the faces.
I must mention,
I'm one of the beneficiaries
of Western Oil scholarships.
As someone with the benefit
of a Western education,
have you come home
to represent your people?
No. I'm not trying
to represent the people.
Excuse me.
I'm sorry.
I didn't get a chance
to introduce myself.
My name is Kate Summers.
I know who you are.
Okay. I've been
covering the Delta
for almost three years now,
and I have never met
somebody who sees things
as clearly as you have.
I think your voice could make
a real difference here.
Do you think the men
will let you speak?
I'm not here
to speak for the people.
All I want is what is right
for me and my people.
Who is she?
One of the beneficiaries
of our scholarship program.
Oh, well.
No good deed
ever goes unpunished, huh?
It's good PR, sir.
I couldn't care
about that, okay?
We have a corrupt
military government breathing
down our goddamn necks.
The last thing we need
is a body count
next to our logo.
- Take care of it.
- Yes, sir.
Gideon, these are
your people, okay?
Talk to me.
What are we gonna do here?
The villagers--
they're going to be
a problem.
They're asking
for compensation.
Individual payments
on losses.
But we can handle them
through the elders.
It didn't seem
like that yesterday.
They're in Abuja right now,
and they want to meet.
Okay. How much
are we talking about?
Well, um, if we--
May I suggest 500,000, sir?
500,000?
Is that for the individual?
Or for compensation
for the entire community?
Listen, I don't care
if you give it to the elders,
if you throw it up
in the air.
- Just make it go away.
- Yes, sir.
Gideon,
find this girl Ebiere.
You offer her anything.
We need her on our side
before this thing blows up
and gets out of control.
They are suggesting...
$500,000.
$500,000?
$500,000!
How do we get this money?
We really need it.
How much would you
be prepared to give
to the white man?
He wants a cut.
Let's give the white man
$100,000.
Okay.
What about yourself?
I suggest you keep
$50,000.
Uh, well, okay. Okay.
You'll have to excuse me
while I make arrangements
for the money.
God bless you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
We are expecting
$350,000!
There are four of us here.
I suggest we share
$50,000 each--
Yes.
And we use the rest
for the hospital project.
Yes!
I really do appreciate this,
but I must decline your offer.
If I wanted a lucrative job,
I would have stayed in the US.
My desire to be here
is for the people.
This is Nigeria, Ebiere.
Think like a Nigerian.
Am I supposed to
collect a bribe
to be Nigerian?
This is not a bribe.
It is just the company's way
of saying we appreciate...
your efforts.
What efforts?
Efforts that couldn't keep
my family alive.
That was nobody's fault.
So, have you come here
to offer another bribe
to the people?
Uh, no, no.
I didn't come here
to debate with you guys.
Then don't do it!
Come on, man.
What happened
was nobody's fault.
It is always our fault!
Man-- Cool out, man.
Wait, wait, wait.
We love our freedom!
We don't love greed!
We love our freedom!
We don't love greed!
We love our freedom!
We don't love greed!
We love our freedom!
We don't love greed!
- Hosanna!
- Yes?
Hosanna!
Yes!
You are not,
by any chance, preparing to go
and join that lunacy?
Is that what you call it?
Lunacy?
For once, our people are able
to bond in a peaceful way,
and you call it lunacy!
- Yes!
- All because the men
are not involved!
- Hosanna.
- Yes?
- You are not leaving
this house.
- And who will stop me?
You and what army?
Don't blame me for your
inadequacies and weakness.
- Eh?
- Since the men have decided
to take bribe...
to enrich themselves,
the women will take matters
into their hands.
Okay. Hosanna.
Yes?
If you leave,
it is over.
Eh!
And don't expect
to come back to this house.
In case you forgot,
my mother left me this house.
It is
my
house.
You may as well do me the favor
of moving out before I get back.
Hosanna.
Useless man.
And make sure you leave
everything I bought.
Which will include
what you are wearing.
Useless man.
Hosanna.
How did I get here?
We love our free--
Hosanna!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Hosanna!
Hey!
Hey! Hey!
Hey! Hey!
Hey!
Into your buses,
into your buses,
into your buses! Fast!
Dede.
I see my sister
is very popular
amongst the women.
Yes, she is.
Why don't you join us this time?
I don't believe
in doing these things
with protests.
I want to fight.
I want to make life
unbearable for them.
What if something
happens to you?
Suppose you get killed.
Well, then at least I died
for something I believe in,
fighting for my land.
Anyway, no one
will miss me.
Hosanna will miss you.
Hmm.
I will miss you.
Join us this one time.
- Now--
- See there?
They can protest
as much as they want.
Protest?
I want to fight.
We are going to join the women.
We can't let the women
do this on their own.
We will fight for our own land.
What are we fighting for?
Freedom!
Get the weapons.
Thank you.
No. Thank you.
Thank you.
You do not need that.
For protection.
Just in case.
Destroy our village.
Rape our women.
Destroy our families.
They must pay.
This is not the way.
Where are you headed for?
Abuja.
- Why?
- Why?
I believe it is
our business why we travel.
Our intelligence reports...
say a group of people
are on their way to try
to overthrow government.
And those people are us,
in 10 buses?
To overthrow
a military government? Wow.
We will have to do
a body search on everyone.
You know, I'm surprised
they sent you, Tamuno.
You know him?
Mm-hmm.
He's my cousin.
We were supposed to join
the force together, but I
suppose I wasn't good enough.
Now they send him
to stop us. They send
our own to stop us.
Can you not see what they do?
I am only doing my job.
I am a sworn officer
of the Nigerian Police Force.
My tribal locality
is only secondary
to my duty.
What is your duty?
Huh? What is your duty?
Protecting the citizens
of Nigeria.
We are citizens
of Nigeria too.
- Uh-huh.
- And law-abiding.
Then you should have
no protest to the search.
You are a disgrace
to your people.
You're a disgrace!
Please turn around
and go back.
My hands are tied, Dede.
- You can't be found with any weapons.
- No.
I want you
to arrest me.
I want your government
to achieve their aim.
I want you to arrest me now!
These men are here
to monitor me.
I am being set up.
- Then leave the force now!
- I cannot do that.
My men
are on orders to fire.
Tamuno.
What is this?
What are you doing?
My job.
We are to conduct a search
on everyone in all of the buses.
- Tamuno!
- - You are to come out with your hands in the air.
- So you're going to do this.
- I warned you.
Now it's too late.
Your hands in the air!
You are crazy!
You are crazy!
Hosanna, stop this!
Stop this, Hosanna!
Do not shoot!
Do not shoot!
Stop this. Do not shoot.
Hosanna, stop this!
Give it to me.
Give it to me.
Do not fire!
It is reported that on
the 15th of January this year,
you did give instruction
to your men...
to vandalize the facilities
of Western Oil.
I did not give
any of such orders.
Excuse me if I...
do not understand you.
But you invited them
to come along with you to Abuja.
I did ask for company.
Ah!
For what,
if I may ask?
A mass rally.
Aha!
A mass rally!
Yes?
It was meant to be
a peaceful protest.
- Hmm.
- To the government.
Mm-hmm.
On the degradation of...
our land and our people
by the oil companies.
Seventeen guns were found
in the possession of your men.
Were you aware that those men
were carrying guns?
I ask you again.
Were you aware that those men
were carrying guns?
I only discovered
when we were about to leave.
- And you let them go with them?
- I didn't think much of it.
You and your men were planning
not only to terrorize
the oil companies,
but also against
the government!
You were planning to overthrow
the federal government! Ha!
You are in
serious trouble.
The crime
of treasonable felony.
Hmm?
Is punishable
in this country
only by death.
♪♪
♪ Solidarity forever
♪♪
♪ Soli, soli, soli
♪ Solidarity forever
♪ Solidarity forever
♪ Solidarity forever
♪ We shall always fight
for our rights ♪♪
You people are
very lucky people.
And you have only one
group of people to be...
grateful to.
The Western Oil Company.
You may now all go!
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
Ebiere.
No more of this.
I'm now an enemy
of the state.
We can do this
without resorting
to violence.
Violence
is the only language
they understand.
The men are with me.
There was nothing
I could do.
I know.
Thank you.
What the government
and the oil companies want
is a war,
and we will give it
to them!
- We will give it to them!
We will give it to them!
- Yes! Yes!
There will be a war!
A war!
Uh-huh.
Violence never pays.
There are better ways
of sending a message
across.
So tell me,
what pays?
Protests.
Protests.
We can march down
the streets of Lagos
and Abuja.
We can make the world
hear our cries.
The world is in business
with killers.
Look, this is Nigeria,
Ebiere.
We have a military
government, huh?
Protests, they don't work.
It just puts you
in the line of fire.
- Uh-huh.
- I would rather die fighting.
Fighting!
Fighting!
Than walking
from Lagos to Abuja.
How much are we
talking about here?
We can't be
sponsoring rebels.
Okay, they're not rebels.
They're people.
And the best thing
I think we can do, as people,
is to support them.
No, I hear you.
I understand that.
But we cover the news
and leave the help part
to the UN.
We can't be financing
a protest.
We would look
like instigators.
We love our freedom!
We don't love greed!
Western Oil,
we don't want greed!
We love our freedom!
We don't love greed!
♪ We won't stay down
♪ We rise up, we rise up
Western Oil,
we don't want greed!
♪ When the world's
on fire, on fire ♪
♪ We will stand our ground
♪ We rise up, we rise up
Somebody call security.
How'd they get through?
Stop it! Stop it.
You have no right to be here.
Go get security.
♪ We won't stay down
-♪ We rise up, we rise up
- We need security here now!
♪ We rise up, we rise up
♪ We rise up, we rise up
♪ We rise up, we rise up
♪ We rise up, we rise up
We love our freedom!
We don't love greed!
Western Oil,
we don't want greed!
In the name
of the head of state...
of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria,
you have 15 seconds
to evacuate!
Do not be afraid!
Stay together!
Fifteen!
Fourteen!
Thirteen. Twelve.
They can only beat our bodies,
but they cannot
kill our spirits!
Stay together!
Eight. Seven. Six.
Five. Four. Three.
Two. One.
Stay together!
Charge!
You cannot
break our spirits!
No!
You get off me!
Oh, no!
You can't kill us.
- Why?
- Get back!
They beat them.
It was a peaceful protest,
and they beat them.
Ebiere Perema, the girl--
She's going to be
a problem, sir.
How so?
Well, she's winning
the people over...
and she won't accept
anything from us.
What Nigerian
doesn't accept a bribe?
This one, sir.
I thought you said
you had it all covered
with the elders.
Um--
Well, I'll tell you what.
We've tried the high road.
Now we're gonna go low.
Yes, sir.
I want a meeting
with the head of state.
Go!
No!
No, don't!
Aah!
Mama? Go!
Go. Mama, come inside.
Mama. Mama.
Please!
No!
Papa! Papa. Help me!
Help me! Papa! Help me!
No.
No.
Hey. Hey.
Hey, you!
Hey! Come on down!
Whoa, whoa.
Quick, quick, quick!
Be cool. Be cool.
Y'all be cool.
Sir, the rebels
have just captured
two of our staff.
- American?
- I'm afraid so.
We paid
two million dollars.
We keep paying and paying.
For what?
Why don't we
get the military
to clean it up?
No, no, no, no, no.
That will be a PR disaster.
Look, what we need
is the girl.
She knows who we are.
She knows where they are.
Ebiere?
After what happened?
Not a chance.
I know my people.
I know Ebiere.
It would cost a little more,
but that's what we need.
How much?
$500,000.
Whatever it takes,
do it.
And you bring Ebiere
to us.
It's done.
Everybody
will come back alive. Good.
Please sit.
Thank you.
But I'd rather
remain standing.
I'm Tom Hudson.
I know
who you are.
I'm sorry about
what happened to you.
You're sorry?
That's good to know,
after you sent them.
Listen, I'm a corporate entity.
I don't tell the military
where to go, what to do.
It was a peaceful protest.
It was uninvited,
and it was on our premises.
Two of my men
were kidnapped.
They're being held
for a $2 million ransom,
or they're gonna get killed.
What has that got
to do with me?
I need you to help negotiate
and find out who did this.
Is that
my new job offer?
Listen, if we don't
sort this thing out,
the military's gonna move in,
your people
are gonna get killed,
my people are gonna get killed.
We need to do what we can do
to avoid all this carnage.
I need your help.
Is this what
you have turned into?
A mere criminal?
What has become of you,
Dede?
I have become
who the government
has made me be.
Those men have families
like we do.
- Do we have families?
- No!
- Do we have families?
- No!
- Do we have families?
- No!
You must let them go.
Why?
Because you say so?
Because
it's the right thing to do!
This is no longer about me.
This is about all of us.
These men have suffered losses,
some even greater
than yours and mine.
This has become
a movement for us.
This is not about the money.
- It's about our lives!
- Yes!
And if they do not pay--
Do not be surprised.
My people
are my people.
I would rather die
on the right side.
What have they done to you?
Hmm?
Stay here
and fight with us.
I cannot.
People back home need me.
I need you too,
Ebiere.
I need you.
Get the money!
Come on. Let's go.
Okay.
Okay.
Let's go. Lets go.
Go. Let's go.
♪ Oh, my home
♪♪
♪ Oh, my home
Oh, my home ♪
♪ Oh, my home ♪
I just wish things
were different.
I'm getting
really tired.
Then come here
and be with me.
Stay here with me.
I don't want
to be a fugitive
all my life.
I don't want to
be running.
I want what
every other woman wants.
I want love,
family, children.
I can give you that.
Dede.
What keeps me going
in this struggle is you.
Please don't say that.
With you I feel like
I can conquer the whole world.
♪
♪
♪
♪♪
♪♪
Two more guys back down here--
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Whoa!
All right, all right!
♪♪
Come on!
♪♪
♪♪
Hurry up!
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
I know you don't like me.
Okay?
And I know all about you,
and you know nothing about me.
The little
I know about you
is enough.
I was actually born
in Nigeria.
My father used to run
a tin mine in Kaduna.
The more reason you should
care about this country.
Your company produces
more than half the oil
in Nigeria.
It is your money
that keeps the military
in power.
My company has no say
in who runs this country.
Ebiere,
I want you
to end all of this.
You tell your people
let us sit down, let us
address all these issues.
We want peace
and we're ready to listen.
What gives you
the impression those men
are going to listen to me?
Yeah,
they'll listen to you.
All you need to do
is convince one person...
and the rest'll listen to you.
Word has come,
not only from
the oil companies
on our land,
but also from
the federal government.
They want to extend
an arm of peace.
And they are willing
to forgive us all our crimes?
They have requested
that you lay your arms.
Request or demand?
At the moment,
request.
I know these people.
I have worked with them.
The government
will never guarantee
anything with rebels.
We are not rebels!
No! We are not rebels!
We are...
members of the struggle!
Members of the struggle!
I suggest
we decline the offer.
Before you
consider the option,
they have asked
for a dialogue.
This is an opportunity
for you to be free,
a chance for you
to return to your families.
What families?
This
is my family!
Give peace a chance.
Give dialogue
a chance.
Go to them now.
The hell with it.
Thank you.
No, thank you.
Are you armed?
No.
Of course not.
We had an agreement.
Just checking.
Mmm.
Wh-What is this?
- What are you doing?
- Nothing.
- You gave your word.
- Mm-hmm.
The government
gave their word.
What's going on?
We will keep
our word.
What we doubt is if
they will keep theirs.
- Beg your pardon?
- All we want to do
is to search them.
To make sure
that they keep their word.
And you brought
20 of your people
to search five of us?
- Precautionary.
- Hey, look, look, look, Ebiere.
We can handle this.
They are not armed.
We are all one. Okay?
I can talk to them.
Hey, hey, we're all
from the Delta, man.
We're all one.
Look, just let them
do what they want to do.
It's okay.
You know,
you gotta understand.
It's just a search.
We won't die alone!
- Wh-What are you doing?
- You remain with us!
- No! We are not here for this!
- So much for keeping your word.
- What are you doing?
- These men were
not to be trusted.
- I ordered you not to!
- But they were not
to be trusted!
All of you, please!
Put your guns down!
- I order you!
- We won't until they
put down theirs!
Please tell your men
to put their arms down.
I can handle this. I beg you.
- Your men are not
to be trusted.
- Please trust me.
We are military men,
and we cannot
put down our weapons.
Ask your men
to put down their weapons!
Please. Please.
Put your weapons down.
This is our only chance
at peace.
If it doesn't work now,
it may never.
I beg you
in the name of God.
If you do not
drop your weapons,
my men will shoot.
No.
I have another gun
with me!
This... was not meant
to happen this way.
- So you had other plans.
- No! No.
You
had other plans.
No. Just allow us
to leave peacefully
and we will talk another day.
That is not possible,
because my orders
are to bring you in.
You had best decide how
you want to bring us in--
dead or alive?
Dede, please don't do this.
Please!
Too many of our people
have died.
Too many have sacrificed.
If I have to die,
I want to die
being on the right side.
They
are on
the wrong side!
They are on
the wrong side!
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
They have killed
our brothers.
Our sisters.
Our fathers.
Our mothers.
Even our children.
But what
they cannot kill
is our spirits.
For every time
they put a knife through us,
we only get stronger.
So this time,
for Dede,
we will be strong.
- For Dede!
- For Dede!
- For Dede!
- For Dede!
- For Dede!
- For Dede!
♪♪
Since 1959, Nigeria's
Niger Delta has increasingly
become a study in contrasts.
The region is home
to over 15 million people,
and it has also produced
an estimated $600 billion
in oil revenues.
That accounts for almost 95% of
Nigeria's total export earnings,
and precious little of that
has ever made its way back
to Delta communities.
New developments today from
the oil-rich region of Nigeria.
♪♪
Too many lives have been lost.
There has to be a change.
We did not send them
to the creeks as rebels.
But our actions did.
So now you are blaming us
for all the happenings?
Things could have been different
if we had given all the money
to the community.
I'm going to give back my share
to the people.
You all should consider
doing the same.
I do not want blood
on my hands.
Peter,
what happened?
He was found dead
this morning.
I know they did this.
My father told me last night
that he had blood money
on his hands.
And shortly after,
his friends came
and they drank all night.
And after they left
he went to bed,
and this morning...
he was dead.
And you know what else?
I found the money
under his bed--
50,000 US dollars.
We cannot let this crime
pass us by.
No. No.
The perpetrators
of this crime...
must
be brought
to face justice.
Yes!
We all agree!
We will march to them.
Yes.
Yes.
And then make them
face the law.
Yes!
Please forgive me.
It wasn't my idea.
It was Chief Kuku
that put us to it.
And that is why
you killed my father?
- No, I-I didn't
kill your father.
- Liar! Liar!
It was Chief Kokun
and Chief Kuku
that poisoned his drink.
Please spare me.
Please.
Bring him.
- My husband is not around.
- Where did he go to?
H-He went to Abuja.
He shall be made to pay
for his crimes.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Please, no. Please.
Please. Please. Please.
I have children like you.
You should have thought about
that before accepting money
from Western Oil.
Put them in the car.
We'll take them
to the police station.
Tie them up first.
Get them tight.
Tie them!
Tie them up!
Peter, we cannot
soil our hands
like this.
We have to make them
face the law.
What law?
The law that cannot
protect my father.
- We are not killers.
- Maybe yesterday.
But my father's lifeless body
lies in his room
all because of these criminals.
- But we cannot do this.
- You do not have to
get involved.
We roll on this
no matter what.
I'm on your side.
If the world sees this,
the world will be too.
Let her come.
You can come in.
Thank you.
Ebiere, can you tell me
what I'm seeing?
Our elders
have failed us again.
They collected a bribe
from Western Oil...
and murdered Chief Gadibia
because he wanted out.
Do you have evidence
of this?
Yes, I do.
50,000 US dollars
in cash.
What will happen
with the chiefs now?
We will have to make them
face the law.
As I drove up, I was hearing
a chant. Can you tell me
what those words mean?
The people say
they can't take this anymore.
It's true.
One final question.
Do you trust the courts
to deal with this?
Oh. Um--
Move! Move! Move!
Move!
Move! Shut up!
Please! Please!
The trial of activist
Ebiere Perema...
begins today
in Warri, Nigeria.
She is charged
with inciting violence...
and conspiracy to commit murder
in the deaths of three
Niger Delta chiefs.
♪♪
A small crowd of Ebiere
supporters has been gathered
here since the early hours.
Within Warri judicial division,
conspired with one another
to commit murder,
punishable by Section 319,
subsection one
of the criminal code,
part 48, volume two,
laws of the defunct
Bandele state, 1976,
as applicable
in Delta states.
Peter Gadibia, do you
understand the charges
read against you?
I do, milord.
How do you plead?
Not guilty.
He pleads not guilty,
milord.
Eloho Akwebasa, do you
understand the charges
read against you?
I do, milord.
How do you plead?
Not guilty.
She pleads not guilty,
milord.
Ebiere Perema,
do you understand
the charges read against you?
I do, milord.
How do you plead?
Guilty.
Order in this court.
Do you understand
the charges against you?
Yes, milord.
I plead guilty.
I see where this is going,
so I'd rather not waste my time,
as well as that of the court.
Milord, can this court
graciously grant us recess...
so as to enable the defense team
to have a word with our client?
- What are you doing?
- They want us dead.
They
will
hang us.
Where's the patriot
that fought so hard?
If there's one thing
I learned from reading
about you,
it's the
never-say-die attitude.
This is a kangaroo court,
and the sitting judge
has as much of a noose
around his neck as I will.
Yes,
but there may be hope.
You, of all people,
should understand that.
Understand what?
Understand the fact
that I'm about to be hanged
with these people?
No, I will not
understand that.
I think I'm pregnant, Kate.
I think I might be
carrying Dede's child.
You must not tell anyone.
Sweetheart,
I'm so sorry.
- There's nothing to be sorry about.
- No, I--
I pushed you.
I-- I saw
such a leader in you.
I didn't know
it would end like this.
Oh, sweetheart.
I wanna tell you
it's all gonna be okay.
You be strong.
They're ready
to negotiate,
but they need
a scapegoat.
They want you free.
In return for what?
You will have to indict
some of your people.
You want me to go in there
and put the blame
on someone else?
Why not? Put the blame
on the true perpetrators
of the crime.
But I didn't see
whoever did it.
But Peter,
he had motive.
He wanted revenge
for his father.
Yes.
But I didn't
see him do it.
You need to decide
what you saw
and what you didn't see.
If he had listened to you,
this would not have happened.
You need to go out there
and say exactly that.
Tell them the truth.
Tell them how you warned them
so the guilty are punished
and you'll live.
I swear to Almighty God--
I swear to Almighty God--
that the evidence
I shall give in this case--
that the evidence
I shall give
in this case--
shall be the truth--
shall be
the truth--
the whole truth--
the whole truth--
nothing but the truth--
nothing
but the truth--
so help me God.
so help me God.
Miss Ebiere Perema,
can you tell this court
what happened on June 4?
I killed some men.
- Excuse me?
- I poured petrol
all over the car...
and burned them to death.
These people,
they tried to stop me,
but I wouldn't let them.
I killed the men,
and I did it alone.
I killed them because...
they caused the circumstance
that led to the death...
of my Dede.
Come on. Come on.
Turn around. Turn around.
I hereby find you
guilty of murder...
on all counts.
You shall be
taken from here...
to a place of execution.
You shall hang by the neck
until you are dead.
May God have mercy...
on your soul.
♪
♪
♪♪
♪♪
- What is the sex of the baby?
- It's a baby boy.
A bouncing baby boy.
You want to have
a feel of your baby?
No.
No, I don't.
Why?
It'll break my heart.
♪♪
♪♪
It is November 10 in Nigeria,
a very significant date,
as we are in front of
the Warri prison...
where Ebiere is scheduled
to be hanged today.
As you can see,
well-wishers and supporters
of her cause are here,
and they have asked that
her body be brought out after
for a befitting burial.
This will be
the second time...
a prominent activist
of the region
is executed by hanging.
Back home in her village
of Agbeja,
mourners and protestors
are lamenting the loss of
a daughter of the Niger Delta.
Hello?
♪♪
♪♪
Why can't I speak
to the head of state?
Huh?
No. This is
an urgent matter.
Don't you watch
the goddamn news?
Well, do something.
I don't have much time.
What about the people?
What about the people,
goddamn it!
What about the girl?
♪♪
This happens to be
an international crisis.
Listen, you asshole.
♪♪
Executing her
would be a mistake.
I know that now.
Hey, this just isn't
about me.
All ri--
Hello? Hello?
We're running
out of time.
No one's
listening to me.
♪♪
No one is listening to you?
This just got harder.
Hey, listen.
Listen.
I've done all I can.
Okay?
Do whatever you want
with me.
Don't hurt her.
Take all the hostages
with you.
What about Hudson?
Stand back!
Please. Stop.
I can't do that.
Hey. Hey.
Listen to me.
I'm sorry...
what happened
to your families.
I'm sorry what happened to you,
what happened to all of you.
- Go!
- Consider your status!
Go!
No more talking.
That's it.
Do you have eyes on Hudson?
Do you have eyes on Hudson?
Miss Hudson?
That's the last of them.
Get 'em out of here.
Come with me.
Get her inside.
Get her something warm.
Right away. Yes.
We'll need to question her
in a minute.
Oh, my God.
The only way we're gonna
get them to stand down is to
put out the press release.
I don't understand.
We release a statement
to the press
that Ebiere has been freed.
There's
an American life at stake,
a very important life.
We'll do everything
to keep him alive.
- By my last count, there was
more than one life involved.
- You mean armed terrorists?
- They're people.
- They're people with AKs and
explosives rigged to tankers.
If we do this, it could result
in a backlash of terrorist acts
on America. Then what?
Shouldn't we be focused
on keeping Ebiere alive?
- All we have to do is contact
the Nigerian government--
- No.
It is inappropriate for us to
meddle in a judicial decision
of a foreign government.
The United States will not
condone acts of terrorism
on American soil.
On your knees.
On your knees!
Hello?
Ebiere is free!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
They're coming out now.
Ma'am, you cannot--
Ma'am?
Get her out of here!
You have to come
with us.
Tamuno.
Ma'am, please stay back.
Get her out of here.
No!
Get her out of here!
Now!
No!
Get him outta here!
♪
♪
♪ One, two
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
Well, just get it done.
- Driver, is this the fastest way to the airport?
- - Yes, sir.
Daddy, you're always
so stressed when you
head back to Nigeria.
Yeah, well, nothing
ever works, does it?
I've been standing here
for an hour,
and I've seen nobody.
But she's
to be hung today.
I mean, how do I know they're
even in the United States?
I think they're here.
So, how did you and your men
find a way into the US?
How did you get visas?
We found our way
to Mexico.
The rest is history.
Okay, if "Ebiery" Perema
is to be hung today,
then why are you--
Ebiere Perema.
Why are you not
in Nigeria?
Why are you not
in Nigeria?
Tamuno.
Here they come.
It's a very stressful place.
Trying to straighten
everything out there.
Everybody's got
their own agenda. Everybody's
fillin' up their own pockets.
Get out!
Come on! Move, move!
Get down!
Let's go, let's go!
Let's get out of here
now, now.
Let's go, let's go!
Come on, come on.
Hurry up. Hurry up!
Stop wasting time.
Get down. Down!
Move it!
No!
Sir, sir. Hey, hey.
I can see him
across the street.
Hey, you got a lot
of people in there!
Unit 304, code seven
back on now.
- You must document this.
- You set me up!
We are not bad people.
We do not want to
hurt anybody.
How do you explain this?
This is Cindy Charles
reporting live
with Channel 8 News.
We're at the corner
of 2nd and Figueroa,
where we have what appears
to be an extreme bomb threat.
A group of terrorists
have just taken innocent
civilians hostage--
men, women and children
here at the 2nd Street tunnel
in downtown Los Angeles.
We have a SWAT team on site
as well as the LAPD.
We have not yet determined
their purpose or who they are.
You gotta move it up.
Whatever your reason,
it doesn't justify this.
This is the only language
the West understands.
That's crazy.
This
is for your people
to know the truth!
How are you getting out of this?
Have you thought about that?
That is our problem,
not yours!
You ask me
why we're here.
We are here
to save Ebiere.
Team Leader, we're in position.
It's been several
hours since the terrorists
took the hostages.
We still have no communication
inside the tunnel.
We have no idea who they are
or what they want.
It's Washington again, Barb.
Workin' every angle, Bob.
What can I tell you?
Anything new?
Nothing yet.
Who the hell
are these guys?
Nothing on the wire.
No contact yet.
- Nothing.
- Ma'am, the team is ready
when you are.
I'm not going in
until I know what
I'm dealing with.
I got here
as soon as I heard.
What do you got?
This was just posted
on their Web site.
They're called
the United People's Front
for the Emancipation...
for the Niger Delta People
of Nigeria.
How in the world
did they get in this country
without us knowing?
None of them were ever on
any of our terrorists' list.
We should have
seen this coming.
Here we go.
- What do we know
about these people?
- That's the problem. Nothing.
We need answers.
- What are their demands?
- They're live.
My name is Tamuno Alaibe,
and I am the leader
of the United People's Front...
for the Emancipation
of the Niger Delta People
of Nigeria.
We have Tom Hudson,
CEO of Western Oil.
If Ebiere Perema hangs
in Nigeria today,
the guilty
will go with her.
Fifty percent of our oil
comes to the United States.
One out of every five
Americans...
uses Nigerian oil.
We export crude oil
to you people...
only to import
refined oil.
Why? Because Western Oil
and our corrupt government...
wouldn't allow
our refineries to work!
The United States government
does not negotiate
with terrorists.
All right, people.
Listen up.
I want everything
on everyone in there.
Now.
How are they
broadcasting this?
Kristy Maine is inside.
What?
- There has to be
a better way than this.
- My people are dying!
Our lands are devastated!
Our farmlands, livestock,
wildlife.
Women and children, go!
Not you. Sit down!
She has nothing
to do with this.
You cannot blame me
for your government.
I am not blaming you
for my government.
I am blaming you
for you.
Maintain position
near entrance.
You will get on the phone
and stop the execution.
You are in bed
with our government.
No. I only represent
my company in Nigeria.
No! You represent
most our government's
income!
They will listen to you!
Well, you know
your head of state, right?
He answers to no one.
He needs you
and your money.
Well, if anything
happens to me,
I'll just be replaced
by another one and another one
and another one.
- You will try.
- Let the hostages go.
Maybe the US government
will listen to you.
- Maybe they'll do something.
- It's too late for that.
It's not too late.
Ebiere is about to die,
and the world
knows nothing of her.
I know of her.
And what have you done?
Do you want
to tell your story?
Do you want
to tell the world?
Ebiere Perema
is a true daughter
of the Niger Delta.
Push now.
Hey! It's a girl!
♪
♪
Cheese!
♪
♪
Where are my children?
Look, listen.
I want you to gather as many
pails and buckets as you can.
Yes, Mama!
Because I hear
the pipelines are leaking again.
Go out behind the yellow bus.
Okay, Mama!
Hey!
Happiness,
where are you going to?
There's another
broken pipeline
out there.
I told you,
I don't want you
to go there.
What do you want me to do?
We need this oil to cook with.
God, look at this.
Look at this. Ah.
Look at this.
You are all under arrest.
- What is our crime?
- Stealing.
- Stealing?
- This oil is the property
of the government of Nigeria.
So what would you
rather we do,
stand by and watch
the property of the federal
government of Nigeria...
spill and spoil
our land?
It is your duty
to report any leakages
in the pipeline.
But we did last week,
and no one came yet
to do anything about it!
I warn you not to continue.
What would you do?
Shoot me?
Which is worse--
watch oil float
past your house...
and yet, in three days,
you cannot get one gallon
of what your federal government
cannot make available?
Huh?
Continue!
Take the oil! Take oil!
Mama?
Mama?
Oh, my God! Ebiere's back!
Ebiere!
Ebiere!
How are you?
How are you?
Where is Mama?
She's at the pipelines.
There has been
another leakage.
Tragedy struck today
outside of Warri...
in Nigeria's Niger Delta.
A Western Oil pipeline
transporting gasoline exploded,
killing over 1,000
women and children...
and leaving dozens more
seriously injured.
This is
the fourth such explosion
in under a decade,
and accusations
have already been made
on both sides...
as to who is responsible
for the disaster.
How would you expect
the people to sit back...
and watch gas and oil
flow freely without getting
some for themselves?
The oil companies
and federal government
must pay for this!
Many here are concerned
that this may escalate
tensions...
between Niger Delta residents
and the oil companies
that operate here...
in an oil-rich region
already torn apart...
by environmental disaster
and human suffering.
My Bubu die!
They are being cheated.
They are being marginalized.
It is the fault of the people,
and that was stealing.
They deserve it.
Only God knows how the fire
came about.
Oh, my God.
I-It was great stuff.
I mean, great stuff.
But we need more.
It's a gold mine.
Get as many interviews
as you can.
Yeah, the camera
right on it, on everything.
There's never enough.
Their pain, their feelings.
Everything about this.
We'll get it all.
The real deal.
More of it, more of it.
It's so powerful.
Oh, my God.
We are outside
of the town hall in Warri...
in Nigeria's Delta state...
to witness a meeting
between members of the Niger
Delta's oil interests...
and its local communities.
Nigeria is the fifth-largest
producer of oil in the world.
It is also home to a population
of over 100 million people...
living on less
than four US dollars a day.
My people have visitors
in our midst.
Our people say...
the owl never flies
by sunlight...
unless it is pursued...
by an aggrieved hunter.
Are you getting this?
In this case,
who is the owl,
or who is
the aggrieved hunter?
That is
at your understanding...
and discretion.
We have come here
not only to offer you
condolence,
but to offer you
and your community...
compensation for
your irreplaceable loss.
We are now at a situation which
requires critical decisions.
Do we compensate
each family for their loss,
or do we compensate
the entire community?
Let our money
be given to us
individually.
Let it be given
to the community!
We can use it
for infrastructure.
No!
Move in on her.
Is there no man
to speak for your family?
I wish the fire
had kept them alive.
Besides, do men feel pain
differently from women?
This is not a matter
for women.
Then you will have to
regard me as a man.
Good show. Good show
you put up here.
Another wonderful way
of pitting family
against family.
Or would I say
man against man?
You come here,
enriching yourselves
from the spoils of our land.
In the process,
wiping out families
and generations.
Yet you keep
the fire burning.
Give the people a rest,
and they will rely on you.
What they do
is give us sickness
and then treat us.
They make us hungry,
and then feed us.
They kill our loved ones,
and then offer us money
for burials.
Can you not see
their plan?
Yes.
It is high time
you start to think
more of the people...
other than your selfish,
fat pockets...
as well as that
of your goons and cohorts.
That's true.
If you do not
change your ways,
the people will rise.
Yeah! Yes!
Excuse me. Excuse me.
You're a new face
in the debate
over the Niger Delta.
Are you here to ask
the people to rise?
I'm not a new face.
I'm just one of the faces.
I must mention,
I'm one of the beneficiaries
of Western Oil scholarships.
As someone with the benefit
of a Western education,
have you come home
to represent your people?
No. I'm not trying
to represent the people.
Excuse me.
I'm sorry.
I didn't get a chance
to introduce myself.
My name is Kate Summers.
I know who you are.
Okay. I've been
covering the Delta
for almost three years now,
and I have never met
somebody who sees things
as clearly as you have.
I think your voice could make
a real difference here.
Do you think the men
will let you speak?
I'm not here
to speak for the people.
All I want is what is right
for me and my people.
Who is she?
One of the beneficiaries
of our scholarship program.
Oh, well.
No good deed
ever goes unpunished, huh?
It's good PR, sir.
I couldn't care
about that, okay?
We have a corrupt
military government breathing
down our goddamn necks.
The last thing we need
is a body count
next to our logo.
- Take care of it.
- Yes, sir.
Gideon, these are
your people, okay?
Talk to me.
What are we gonna do here?
The villagers--
they're going to be
a problem.
They're asking
for compensation.
Individual payments
on losses.
But we can handle them
through the elders.
It didn't seem
like that yesterday.
They're in Abuja right now,
and they want to meet.
Okay. How much
are we talking about?
Well, um, if we--
May I suggest 500,000, sir?
500,000?
Is that for the individual?
Or for compensation
for the entire community?
Listen, I don't care
if you give it to the elders,
if you throw it up
in the air.
- Just make it go away.
- Yes, sir.
Gideon,
find this girl Ebiere.
You offer her anything.
We need her on our side
before this thing blows up
and gets out of control.
They are suggesting...
$500,000.
$500,000?
$500,000!
How do we get this money?
We really need it.
How much would you
be prepared to give
to the white man?
He wants a cut.
Let's give the white man
$100,000.
Okay.
What about yourself?
I suggest you keep
$50,000.
Uh, well, okay. Okay.
You'll have to excuse me
while I make arrangements
for the money.
God bless you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
We are expecting
$350,000!
There are four of us here.
I suggest we share
$50,000 each--
Yes.
And we use the rest
for the hospital project.
Yes!
I really do appreciate this,
but I must decline your offer.
If I wanted a lucrative job,
I would have stayed in the US.
My desire to be here
is for the people.
This is Nigeria, Ebiere.
Think like a Nigerian.
Am I supposed to
collect a bribe
to be Nigerian?
This is not a bribe.
It is just the company's way
of saying we appreciate...
your efforts.
What efforts?
Efforts that couldn't keep
my family alive.
That was nobody's fault.
So, have you come here
to offer another bribe
to the people?
Uh, no, no.
I didn't come here
to debate with you guys.
Then don't do it!
Come on, man.
What happened
was nobody's fault.
It is always our fault!
Man-- Cool out, man.
Wait, wait, wait.
We love our freedom!
We don't love greed!
We love our freedom!
We don't love greed!
We love our freedom!
We don't love greed!
We love our freedom!
We don't love greed!
- Hosanna!
- Yes?
Hosanna!
Yes!
You are not,
by any chance, preparing to go
and join that lunacy?
Is that what you call it?
Lunacy?
For once, our people are able
to bond in a peaceful way,
and you call it lunacy!
- Yes!
- All because the men
are not involved!
- Hosanna.
- Yes?
- You are not leaving
this house.
- And who will stop me?
You and what army?
Don't blame me for your
inadequacies and weakness.
- Eh?
- Since the men have decided
to take bribe...
to enrich themselves,
the women will take matters
into their hands.
Okay. Hosanna.
Yes?
If you leave,
it is over.
Eh!
And don't expect
to come back to this house.
In case you forgot,
my mother left me this house.
It is
my
house.
You may as well do me the favor
of moving out before I get back.
Hosanna.
Useless man.
And make sure you leave
everything I bought.
Which will include
what you are wearing.
Useless man.
Hosanna.
How did I get here?
We love our free--
Hosanna!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Hosanna!
Hey!
Hey! Hey!
Hey! Hey!
Hey!
Into your buses,
into your buses,
into your buses! Fast!
Dede.
I see my sister
is very popular
amongst the women.
Yes, she is.
Why don't you join us this time?
I don't believe
in doing these things
with protests.
I want to fight.
I want to make life
unbearable for them.
What if something
happens to you?
Suppose you get killed.
Well, then at least I died
for something I believe in,
fighting for my land.
Anyway, no one
will miss me.
Hosanna will miss you.
Hmm.
I will miss you.
Join us this one time.
- Now--
- See there?
They can protest
as much as they want.
Protest?
I want to fight.
We are going to join the women.
We can't let the women
do this on their own.
We will fight for our own land.
What are we fighting for?
Freedom!
Get the weapons.
Thank you.
No. Thank you.
Thank you.
You do not need that.
For protection.
Just in case.
Destroy our village.
Rape our women.
Destroy our families.
They must pay.
This is not the way.
Where are you headed for?
Abuja.
- Why?
- Why?
I believe it is
our business why we travel.
Our intelligence reports...
say a group of people
are on their way to try
to overthrow government.
And those people are us,
in 10 buses?
To overthrow
a military government? Wow.
We will have to do
a body search on everyone.
You know, I'm surprised
they sent you, Tamuno.
You know him?
Mm-hmm.
He's my cousin.
We were supposed to join
the force together, but I
suppose I wasn't good enough.
Now they send him
to stop us. They send
our own to stop us.
Can you not see what they do?
I am only doing my job.
I am a sworn officer
of the Nigerian Police Force.
My tribal locality
is only secondary
to my duty.
What is your duty?
Huh? What is your duty?
Protecting the citizens
of Nigeria.
We are citizens
of Nigeria too.
- Uh-huh.
- And law-abiding.
Then you should have
no protest to the search.
You are a disgrace
to your people.
You're a disgrace!
Please turn around
and go back.
My hands are tied, Dede.
- You can't be found with any weapons.
- No.
I want you
to arrest me.
I want your government
to achieve their aim.
I want you to arrest me now!
These men are here
to monitor me.
I am being set up.
- Then leave the force now!
- I cannot do that.
My men
are on orders to fire.
Tamuno.
What is this?
What are you doing?
My job.
We are to conduct a search
on everyone in all of the buses.
- Tamuno!
- - You are to come out with your hands in the air.
- So you're going to do this.
- I warned you.
Now it's too late.
Your hands in the air!
You are crazy!
You are crazy!
Hosanna, stop this!
Stop this, Hosanna!
Do not shoot!
Do not shoot!
Stop this. Do not shoot.
Hosanna, stop this!
Give it to me.
Give it to me.
Do not fire!
It is reported that on
the 15th of January this year,
you did give instruction
to your men...
to vandalize the facilities
of Western Oil.
I did not give
any of such orders.
Excuse me if I...
do not understand you.
But you invited them
to come along with you to Abuja.
I did ask for company.
Ah!
For what,
if I may ask?
A mass rally.
Aha!
A mass rally!
Yes?
It was meant to be
a peaceful protest.
- Hmm.
- To the government.
Mm-hmm.
On the degradation of...
our land and our people
by the oil companies.
Seventeen guns were found
in the possession of your men.
Were you aware that those men
were carrying guns?
I ask you again.
Were you aware that those men
were carrying guns?
I only discovered
when we were about to leave.
- And you let them go with them?
- I didn't think much of it.
You and your men were planning
not only to terrorize
the oil companies,
but also against
the government!
You were planning to overthrow
the federal government! Ha!
You are in
serious trouble.
The crime
of treasonable felony.
Hmm?
Is punishable
in this country
only by death.
♪♪
♪ Solidarity forever
♪♪
♪ Soli, soli, soli
♪ Solidarity forever
♪ Solidarity forever
♪ Solidarity forever
♪ We shall always fight
for our rights ♪♪
You people are
very lucky people.
And you have only one
group of people to be...
grateful to.
The Western Oil Company.
You may now all go!
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
Ebiere.
No more of this.
I'm now an enemy
of the state.
We can do this
without resorting
to violence.
Violence
is the only language
they understand.
The men are with me.
There was nothing
I could do.
I know.
Thank you.
What the government
and the oil companies want
is a war,
and we will give it
to them!
- We will give it to them!
We will give it to them!
- Yes! Yes!
There will be a war!
A war!
Uh-huh.
Violence never pays.
There are better ways
of sending a message
across.
So tell me,
what pays?
Protests.
Protests.
We can march down
the streets of Lagos
and Abuja.
We can make the world
hear our cries.
The world is in business
with killers.
Look, this is Nigeria,
Ebiere.
We have a military
government, huh?
Protests, they don't work.
It just puts you
in the line of fire.
- Uh-huh.
- I would rather die fighting.
Fighting!
Fighting!
Than walking
from Lagos to Abuja.
How much are we
talking about here?
We can't be
sponsoring rebels.
Okay, they're not rebels.
They're people.
And the best thing
I think we can do, as people,
is to support them.
No, I hear you.
I understand that.
But we cover the news
and leave the help part
to the UN.
We can't be financing
a protest.
We would look
like instigators.
We love our freedom!
We don't love greed!
Western Oil,
we don't want greed!
We love our freedom!
We don't love greed!
♪ We won't stay down
♪ We rise up, we rise up
Western Oil,
we don't want greed!
♪ When the world's
on fire, on fire ♪
♪ We will stand our ground
♪ We rise up, we rise up
Somebody call security.
How'd they get through?
Stop it! Stop it.
You have no right to be here.
Go get security.
♪ We won't stay down
-♪ We rise up, we rise up
- We need security here now!
♪ We rise up, we rise up
♪ We rise up, we rise up
♪ We rise up, we rise up
♪ We rise up, we rise up
We love our freedom!
We don't love greed!
Western Oil,
we don't want greed!
In the name
of the head of state...
of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria,
you have 15 seconds
to evacuate!
Do not be afraid!
Stay together!
Fifteen!
Fourteen!
Thirteen. Twelve.
They can only beat our bodies,
but they cannot
kill our spirits!
Stay together!
Eight. Seven. Six.
Five. Four. Three.
Two. One.
Stay together!
Charge!
You cannot
break our spirits!
No!
You get off me!
Oh, no!
You can't kill us.
- Why?
- Get back!
They beat them.
It was a peaceful protest,
and they beat them.
Ebiere Perema, the girl--
She's going to be
a problem, sir.
How so?
Well, she's winning
the people over...
and she won't accept
anything from us.
What Nigerian
doesn't accept a bribe?
This one, sir.
I thought you said
you had it all covered
with the elders.
Um--
Well, I'll tell you what.
We've tried the high road.
Now we're gonna go low.
Yes, sir.
I want a meeting
with the head of state.
Go!
No!
No, don't!
Aah!
Mama? Go!
Go. Mama, come inside.
Mama. Mama.
Please!
No!
Papa! Papa. Help me!
Help me! Papa! Help me!
No.
No.
Hey. Hey.
Hey, you!
Hey! Come on down!
Whoa, whoa.
Quick, quick, quick!
Be cool. Be cool.
Y'all be cool.
Sir, the rebels
have just captured
two of our staff.
- American?
- I'm afraid so.
We paid
two million dollars.
We keep paying and paying.
For what?
Why don't we
get the military
to clean it up?
No, no, no, no, no.
That will be a PR disaster.
Look, what we need
is the girl.
She knows who we are.
She knows where they are.
Ebiere?
After what happened?
Not a chance.
I know my people.
I know Ebiere.
It would cost a little more,
but that's what we need.
How much?
$500,000.
Whatever it takes,
do it.
And you bring Ebiere
to us.
It's done.
Everybody
will come back alive. Good.
Please sit.
Thank you.
But I'd rather
remain standing.
I'm Tom Hudson.
I know
who you are.
I'm sorry about
what happened to you.
You're sorry?
That's good to know,
after you sent them.
Listen, I'm a corporate entity.
I don't tell the military
where to go, what to do.
It was a peaceful protest.
It was uninvited,
and it was on our premises.
Two of my men
were kidnapped.
They're being held
for a $2 million ransom,
or they're gonna get killed.
What has that got
to do with me?
I need you to help negotiate
and find out who did this.
Is that
my new job offer?
Listen, if we don't
sort this thing out,
the military's gonna move in,
your people
are gonna get killed,
my people are gonna get killed.
We need to do what we can do
to avoid all this carnage.
I need your help.
Is this what
you have turned into?
A mere criminal?
What has become of you,
Dede?
I have become
who the government
has made me be.
Those men have families
like we do.
- Do we have families?
- No!
- Do we have families?
- No!
- Do we have families?
- No!
You must let them go.
Why?
Because you say so?
Because
it's the right thing to do!
This is no longer about me.
This is about all of us.
These men have suffered losses,
some even greater
than yours and mine.
This has become
a movement for us.
This is not about the money.
- It's about our lives!
- Yes!
And if they do not pay--
Do not be surprised.
My people
are my people.
I would rather die
on the right side.
What have they done to you?
Hmm?
Stay here
and fight with us.
I cannot.
People back home need me.
I need you too,
Ebiere.
I need you.
Get the money!
Come on. Let's go.
Okay.
Okay.
Let's go. Lets go.
Go. Let's go.
♪ Oh, my home
♪♪
♪ Oh, my home
Oh, my home ♪
♪ Oh, my home ♪
I just wish things
were different.
I'm getting
really tired.
Then come here
and be with me.
Stay here with me.
I don't want
to be a fugitive
all my life.
I don't want to
be running.
I want what
every other woman wants.
I want love,
family, children.
I can give you that.
Dede.
What keeps me going
in this struggle is you.
Please don't say that.
With you I feel like
I can conquer the whole world.
♪
♪
♪
♪♪
♪♪
Two more guys back down here--
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Whoa!
All right, all right!
♪♪
Come on!
♪♪
♪♪
Hurry up!
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
I know you don't like me.
Okay?
And I know all about you,
and you know nothing about me.
The little
I know about you
is enough.
I was actually born
in Nigeria.
My father used to run
a tin mine in Kaduna.
The more reason you should
care about this country.
Your company produces
more than half the oil
in Nigeria.
It is your money
that keeps the military
in power.
My company has no say
in who runs this country.
Ebiere,
I want you
to end all of this.
You tell your people
let us sit down, let us
address all these issues.
We want peace
and we're ready to listen.
What gives you
the impression those men
are going to listen to me?
Yeah,
they'll listen to you.
All you need to do
is convince one person...
and the rest'll listen to you.
Word has come,
not only from
the oil companies
on our land,
but also from
the federal government.
They want to extend
an arm of peace.
And they are willing
to forgive us all our crimes?
They have requested
that you lay your arms.
Request or demand?
At the moment,
request.
I know these people.
I have worked with them.
The government
will never guarantee
anything with rebels.
We are not rebels!
No! We are not rebels!
We are...
members of the struggle!
Members of the struggle!
I suggest
we decline the offer.
Before you
consider the option,
they have asked
for a dialogue.
This is an opportunity
for you to be free,
a chance for you
to return to your families.
What families?
This
is my family!
Give peace a chance.
Give dialogue
a chance.
Go to them now.
The hell with it.
Thank you.
No, thank you.
Are you armed?
No.
Of course not.
We had an agreement.
Just checking.
Mmm.
Wh-What is this?
- What are you doing?
- Nothing.
- You gave your word.
- Mm-hmm.
The government
gave their word.
What's going on?
We will keep
our word.
What we doubt is if
they will keep theirs.
- Beg your pardon?
- All we want to do
is to search them.
To make sure
that they keep their word.
And you brought
20 of your people
to search five of us?
- Precautionary.
- Hey, look, look, look, Ebiere.
We can handle this.
They are not armed.
We are all one. Okay?
I can talk to them.
Hey, hey, we're all
from the Delta, man.
We're all one.
Look, just let them
do what they want to do.
It's okay.
You know,
you gotta understand.
It's just a search.
We won't die alone!
- Wh-What are you doing?
- You remain with us!
- No! We are not here for this!
- So much for keeping your word.
- What are you doing?
- These men were
not to be trusted.
- I ordered you not to!
- But they were not
to be trusted!
All of you, please!
Put your guns down!
- I order you!
- We won't until they
put down theirs!
Please tell your men
to put their arms down.
I can handle this. I beg you.
- Your men are not
to be trusted.
- Please trust me.
We are military men,
and we cannot
put down our weapons.
Ask your men
to put down their weapons!
Please. Please.
Put your weapons down.
This is our only chance
at peace.
If it doesn't work now,
it may never.
I beg you
in the name of God.
If you do not
drop your weapons,
my men will shoot.
No.
I have another gun
with me!
This... was not meant
to happen this way.
- So you had other plans.
- No! No.
You
had other plans.
No. Just allow us
to leave peacefully
and we will talk another day.
That is not possible,
because my orders
are to bring you in.
You had best decide how
you want to bring us in--
dead or alive?
Dede, please don't do this.
Please!
Too many of our people
have died.
Too many have sacrificed.
If I have to die,
I want to die
being on the right side.
They
are on
the wrong side!
They are on
the wrong side!
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
They have killed
our brothers.
Our sisters.
Our fathers.
Our mothers.
Even our children.
But what
they cannot kill
is our spirits.
For every time
they put a knife through us,
we only get stronger.
So this time,
for Dede,
we will be strong.
- For Dede!
- For Dede!
- For Dede!
- For Dede!
- For Dede!
- For Dede!
♪♪
Since 1959, Nigeria's
Niger Delta has increasingly
become a study in contrasts.
The region is home
to over 15 million people,
and it has also produced
an estimated $600 billion
in oil revenues.
That accounts for almost 95% of
Nigeria's total export earnings,
and precious little of that
has ever made its way back
to Delta communities.
New developments today from
the oil-rich region of Nigeria.
♪♪
Too many lives have been lost.
There has to be a change.
We did not send them
to the creeks as rebels.
But our actions did.
So now you are blaming us
for all the happenings?
Things could have been different
if we had given all the money
to the community.
I'm going to give back my share
to the people.
You all should consider
doing the same.
I do not want blood
on my hands.
Peter,
what happened?
He was found dead
this morning.
I know they did this.
My father told me last night
that he had blood money
on his hands.
And shortly after,
his friends came
and they drank all night.
And after they left
he went to bed,
and this morning...
he was dead.
And you know what else?
I found the money
under his bed--
50,000 US dollars.
We cannot let this crime
pass us by.
No. No.
The perpetrators
of this crime...
must
be brought
to face justice.
Yes!
We all agree!
We will march to them.
Yes.
Yes.
And then make them
face the law.
Yes!
Please forgive me.
It wasn't my idea.
It was Chief Kuku
that put us to it.
And that is why
you killed my father?
- No, I-I didn't
kill your father.
- Liar! Liar!
It was Chief Kokun
and Chief Kuku
that poisoned his drink.
Please spare me.
Please.
Bring him.
- My husband is not around.
- Where did he go to?
H-He went to Abuja.
He shall be made to pay
for his crimes.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Please, no. Please.
Please. Please. Please.
I have children like you.
You should have thought about
that before accepting money
from Western Oil.
Put them in the car.
We'll take them
to the police station.
Tie them up first.
Get them tight.
Tie them!
Tie them up!
Peter, we cannot
soil our hands
like this.
We have to make them
face the law.
What law?
The law that cannot
protect my father.
- We are not killers.
- Maybe yesterday.
But my father's lifeless body
lies in his room
all because of these criminals.
- But we cannot do this.
- You do not have to
get involved.
We roll on this
no matter what.
I'm on your side.
If the world sees this,
the world will be too.
Let her come.
You can come in.
Thank you.
Ebiere, can you tell me
what I'm seeing?
Our elders
have failed us again.
They collected a bribe
from Western Oil...
and murdered Chief Gadibia
because he wanted out.
Do you have evidence
of this?
Yes, I do.
50,000 US dollars
in cash.
What will happen
with the chiefs now?
We will have to make them
face the law.
As I drove up, I was hearing
a chant. Can you tell me
what those words mean?
The people say
they can't take this anymore.
It's true.
One final question.
Do you trust the courts
to deal with this?
Oh. Um--
Move! Move! Move!
Move!
Move! Shut up!
Please! Please!
The trial of activist
Ebiere Perema...
begins today
in Warri, Nigeria.
She is charged
with inciting violence...
and conspiracy to commit murder
in the deaths of three
Niger Delta chiefs.
♪♪
A small crowd of Ebiere
supporters has been gathered
here since the early hours.
Within Warri judicial division,
conspired with one another
to commit murder,
punishable by Section 319,
subsection one
of the criminal code,
part 48, volume two,
laws of the defunct
Bandele state, 1976,
as applicable
in Delta states.
Peter Gadibia, do you
understand the charges
read against you?
I do, milord.
How do you plead?
Not guilty.
He pleads not guilty,
milord.
Eloho Akwebasa, do you
understand the charges
read against you?
I do, milord.
How do you plead?
Not guilty.
She pleads not guilty,
milord.
Ebiere Perema,
do you understand
the charges read against you?
I do, milord.
How do you plead?
Guilty.
Order in this court.
Do you understand
the charges against you?
Yes, milord.
I plead guilty.
I see where this is going,
so I'd rather not waste my time,
as well as that of the court.
Milord, can this court
graciously grant us recess...
so as to enable the defense team
to have a word with our client?
- What are you doing?
- They want us dead.
They
will
hang us.
Where's the patriot
that fought so hard?
If there's one thing
I learned from reading
about you,
it's the
never-say-die attitude.
This is a kangaroo court,
and the sitting judge
has as much of a noose
around his neck as I will.
Yes,
but there may be hope.
You, of all people,
should understand that.
Understand what?
Understand the fact
that I'm about to be hanged
with these people?
No, I will not
understand that.
I think I'm pregnant, Kate.
I think I might be
carrying Dede's child.
You must not tell anyone.
Sweetheart,
I'm so sorry.
- There's nothing to be sorry about.
- No, I--
I pushed you.
I-- I saw
such a leader in you.
I didn't know
it would end like this.
Oh, sweetheart.
I wanna tell you
it's all gonna be okay.
You be strong.
They're ready
to negotiate,
but they need
a scapegoat.
They want you free.
In return for what?
You will have to indict
some of your people.
You want me to go in there
and put the blame
on someone else?
Why not? Put the blame
on the true perpetrators
of the crime.
But I didn't see
whoever did it.
But Peter,
he had motive.
He wanted revenge
for his father.
Yes.
But I didn't
see him do it.
You need to decide
what you saw
and what you didn't see.
If he had listened to you,
this would not have happened.
You need to go out there
and say exactly that.
Tell them the truth.
Tell them how you warned them
so the guilty are punished
and you'll live.
I swear to Almighty God--
I swear to Almighty God--
that the evidence
I shall give in this case--
that the evidence
I shall give
in this case--
shall be the truth--
shall be
the truth--
the whole truth--
the whole truth--
nothing but the truth--
nothing
but the truth--
so help me God.
so help me God.
Miss Ebiere Perema,
can you tell this court
what happened on June 4?
I killed some men.
- Excuse me?
- I poured petrol
all over the car...
and burned them to death.
These people,
they tried to stop me,
but I wouldn't let them.
I killed the men,
and I did it alone.
I killed them because...
they caused the circumstance
that led to the death...
of my Dede.
Come on. Come on.
Turn around. Turn around.
I hereby find you
guilty of murder...
on all counts.
You shall be
taken from here...
to a place of execution.
You shall hang by the neck
until you are dead.
May God have mercy...
on your soul.
♪
♪
♪♪
♪♪
- What is the sex of the baby?
- It's a baby boy.
A bouncing baby boy.
You want to have
a feel of your baby?
No.
No, I don't.
Why?
It'll break my heart.
♪♪
♪♪
It is November 10 in Nigeria,
a very significant date,
as we are in front of
the Warri prison...
where Ebiere is scheduled
to be hanged today.
As you can see,
well-wishers and supporters
of her cause are here,
and they have asked that
her body be brought out after
for a befitting burial.
This will be
the second time...
a prominent activist
of the region
is executed by hanging.
Back home in her village
of Agbeja,
mourners and protestors
are lamenting the loss of
a daughter of the Niger Delta.
Hello?
♪♪
♪♪
Why can't I speak
to the head of state?
Huh?
No. This is
an urgent matter.
Don't you watch
the goddamn news?
Well, do something.
I don't have much time.
What about the people?
What about the people,
goddamn it!
What about the girl?
♪♪
This happens to be
an international crisis.
Listen, you asshole.
♪♪
Executing her
would be a mistake.
I know that now.
Hey, this just isn't
about me.
All ri--
Hello? Hello?
We're running
out of time.
No one's
listening to me.
♪♪
No one is listening to you?
This just got harder.
Hey, listen.
Listen.
I've done all I can.
Okay?
Do whatever you want
with me.
Don't hurt her.
Take all the hostages
with you.
What about Hudson?
Stand back!
Please. Stop.
I can't do that.
Hey. Hey.
Listen to me.
I'm sorry...
what happened
to your families.
I'm sorry what happened to you,
what happened to all of you.
- Go!
- Consider your status!
Go!
No more talking.
That's it.
Do you have eyes on Hudson?
Do you have eyes on Hudson?
Miss Hudson?
That's the last of them.
Get 'em out of here.
Come with me.
Get her inside.
Get her something warm.
Right away. Yes.
We'll need to question her
in a minute.
Oh, my God.
The only way we're gonna
get them to stand down is to
put out the press release.
I don't understand.
We release a statement
to the press
that Ebiere has been freed.
There's
an American life at stake,
a very important life.
We'll do everything
to keep him alive.
- By my last count, there was
more than one life involved.
- You mean armed terrorists?
- They're people.
- They're people with AKs and
explosives rigged to tankers.
If we do this, it could result
in a backlash of terrorist acts
on America. Then what?
Shouldn't we be focused
on keeping Ebiere alive?
- All we have to do is contact
the Nigerian government--
- No.
It is inappropriate for us to
meddle in a judicial decision
of a foreign government.
The United States will not
condone acts of terrorism
on American soil.
On your knees.
On your knees!
Hello?
Ebiere is free!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
They're coming out now.
Ma'am, you cannot--
Ma'am?
Get her out of here!
You have to come
with us.
Tamuno.
Ma'am, please stay back.
Get her out of here.
No!
Get her out of here!
Now!
No!
Get him outta here!
♪
♪
♪ One, two
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪