Odey Oyama: The power of truth and community solidarity

You were arrested earlier this year. Can you tell us what happened?

I was arrested because of my work defending the rainforest in Cross River State. My team and I were constructing a community-approved checkpoint to prevent illegal logging when we were accused of crimes ranging from conspiracy to inciting conflict between the local Indigenous communities. These were fabricated charges, clearly intended to criminalize our environmental activism and stop our campaign against illegal loggers and unlicensed Chinese logging companies operating near Okuni.

That must have been a difficult experience. How did you cope with it?

It was a deeply intimidating experience; being handcuffed, detained, and falsely accused. But rather than break me, it strengthened my resolve. I realized that those behind these actions fear the power of truth and community solidarity. If we allow fear to silence us, the forest and its people will be lost forever.

Where do you find the strength to keep going?

My strength comes from the communities I serve: the women, youth, and Indigenous people whose lives depend on the forest. Their courage inspires me daily. I also draw strength from the belief that defending the environment is defending life itself. Justice may be delayed, but it cannot be denied forever.

From your perspective, what needs to happen to truly protect the rainforests?

Protection must begin with empowering communities. We must strengthen local forest governance, train community activists, and enforce existing environmental laws. We also need strong legal frameworks, transparency, and the courage to hold both local and foreign actors accountable for illegal exploitation.

How can Rainforest Rescue best stand with you and your colleagues in this work?

Rainforest Rescue can help amplify our voice, provide strategic and legal support, and help fund community training and advocacy. With such a partnership, we can sustain legal actions against illegal loggers, protect the Green Rangers, and secure the forest from criminal and corrupt interests.

What message would you like to share with our supporters and donors?

I want to say thank you – for believing that the rainforest matters. Your solidarity gives us hope and courage to keep going. Every act of support – financial or moral – is a step toward justice, sustainability, and peace. Please, don’t stop. Stand with us so we can stand for the forest.

Before we wrap up, is there anything you’d like to add?

Yes. The struggle for the rainforest is not just an environmental issue – it is a human rights issue. The rainforest is life, identity, and dignity for millions. If we lose it, we lose ourselves. My appeal is for global unity: let us join hands to defend the earth before it is too late.