ERA thanks PSI and others for their support during Justina Ojo's kidnapping in Nigeria

The wife of the Executive Director of the Environmental Rights Action (ERA), Godwin Ojo, who was kidnapped on February 22, has been released. ERA is an important PSI partner in the campaign against water privatization in the country.

Dear friends and allies,
 
The entire management and staffs of Environmental Rights Action are profoundly grateful for your solidarity, encouraging words and actions throughout the period of Justina Ojo's abduction.

The good news is: February 26 she was released unhurt to her family in Benin City, Edo State in Nigeria's Niger Delta region after four days in the hands of the abductors. She is in good condition and will take some days off to rest with Godwin Ojo and other members of their immediate family.

Words cannot express our gratitude for the force and impact of your individual and collective reach-out through letters, phone calls and social media actions which all sustained the pressure on the Nigerian government and particularly the police to do something swiftly about the incident.

Executive Director of ERA, Godwin Uyi, Ojo said: "We are awed by the show of solidarity from all of you. Indeed, there is strength in unity and this has been demonstrated in the global synergy we all built and sustained in the last four days to ensure Justina is released".

For security reasons Godwin and Justina still cannot go home yet until clearer picture emerges.

We plan a press conference in the days ahead to give a fuller picture of all that transpired.

We use this medium to thank our international allies - Friends of the Earth International, Corporate Accountability International, Framework Convention Alliance, Public Services International, and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK).

Oters include, IDRC, Canada; EJOLT Team, Spain; Coalition of NGOs in Edo state; World Rainforest Movement (WRM); ANEEJ, and a host of other local, national and international organisations and movements fighting for equity and social justice.

Thanks to Erick and the team in FoEI, Shayda and the team in Corporate Accountability International, Sani Baba and the PSI team.

For now we want to say thank you for your time, thank you for your energies, and thank you all for the work you do to ensure we have a just society.  God bless you all.
 
Philip Jakpor
Head, Media & Communication
Environmental Rights Action