Ken Saro-Wiwa’s widow dies at 72

Maria, widow of the late environmental activist and poet, Ken Saro-Wiwa, is dead.

According to her daughter, Noo, Maria died on Sunday at the age of 72.

Announcing the demise of her mother in a Facebook post on Wednesday, a grieving Noo said “no words can express how much I love her and how grateful I am for all that she has done for our family. Her strength will always be my inspiration”.

Born in 1949, Maria, a trained teacher, married the late environmental activist in 1966.

Saro-Wiwa was killed alongside eight other Ogoni people in 1995 after being tried by a special military tribunal for allegedly masterminding the killing of Ogoni chiefs at a pro-government meeting.

The approval of his killing by then-Head of State Gen Sani Abacha (deceased) sparked international outrage and resulted in Nigeria’s suspension from the Commonwealth of Nations.