New documents discovered in a landmark human rights suit by EarthRights International against oil giant Chevron Corp. reveal that Chevron’s Nigerian subsidiary paid Nigerian soldiers who attacked the Nigerian villages of Opia and Ikenyan, killing several people and burning the villages to the ground. The new evidence comes as Chevron moves to take over Unocal Corp., whose Yadana pipeline project in Burma has been the subject of similar human rights lawsuits.

On the morning of January 4, 1999, villagers from Opia visited a Chevron facility seeking compensation for environmental damage caused by Chevron’s oil development, including harm to their fishing catch and drinking water. They were met by soldiers who fired warning shots and warned them not to return. Later that day, soldiers in helicopters leased by Chevron, accompanied by a Chevron employee, came to Opia and the nearby village of Ikenyan, shooting unarmed villagers and burning the villages.

Although Chevron had for years denied any role in the attacks, the new documents show that Chevron paid the Nigerian soldiers who carried out the attacks: a receipt shows a payment of 15,000 Nigerian naira for;

Services carried out by Capt. [redacted] and 22 Soldiers whom left from Escravos/Madangho to [illegible] attacks from Opia village on January 4, 1999.

Escravos is a Chevron facility. The document is available on ERI’s website.

Cindy Cohn of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, co-counsel on the case declared that,

We now have evidence from Chevron’s own records that in response to claims for compensation for environmental damage, Chevron paid soldiers to attack and destroy two villages, provided the helicopter and boats used and had its own security personnel participate.

Corporations who commit murder for economic gain are beneath contempt and must be brought to justice. If we haven’t got criminal laws to punish them in this country, we ought to get them.