Ogoni villagers, already nervous, were alarmed to see the trucks particularly since there was no fire, so denied the company access to the station. It is maintained by Shell that the fire trucks were seized by the villagers and that a second team deployed by Shell was attacked, although this is denied by the Ogoni. During the alleged attack, Shell claimed that 'the team exercised extreme restraint' 87 . However, one villager was shot dead and two others, including a 70 year old man, sustained serious bullet wounds 88 . To date, there is still no end to the environmental pollution and suppression as attacks on Ogoni villages continue.
Military presence remains heavy, increasing the tension and fear in the region.
Ogoni has effectively been sealed off, military checkpoints have been set up and the systematic violence continues unabated. The controversy surrounding the military's involvement, in what initially started as a community's campaign against continuing oil pollution, is increasing. One recent development in particular raises serious concerns over the military's perception of its own role in Ogoni. I have been here for nine months. When it was put to Major Okutimo that, according to newspapers, soldiers had been withdrawn from the area, he simply replied, 'That is what you read in the papers.