Civil Society in the shadows of Nigeria’s Core Conflicts Civil Society’s Engagement in the Niger Delta C onflict - Ogechi OGU Introduction The Niger Delta crisis is characterized by gross human rights abuses of the people and the community. The recurrent conflict and crisis in the region are demonstrations of the failure of the government to deliver on Economic, Social and cultural rights of the people and a response to the use of brute force by the government to suppress genuine attempts of the people at expressing their concerns. The activities of the government in the region are connected to the desperate need to protect the vested economic interest in the region. A clear demonstration of the suppression of the people is the execution of Ken Saro Wiwa and other Ogoni activists on November 10, 1995, in what is now popularly referred to as the‘Ogoni Nine’ and such other unwarranted suppressive events before and after that. The role of Civil Society organizations in addressing conflicts in the region stands out. These organizations have been resolute in peace­building interventions in the region, though the continued conflict and crisis are indications that there is a need to do more. Obviously, Civil Society Organizations need to be strengthened both in capacity and approach in initiatives and interventions in the Niger Delta. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Nigeria| 78