They appeared to be helpful, but Martha Agbani, the women's leader, detected a sense of danger. She had encountered these men in Yaataah before and knew their offer came with a threat - pay up or face consequences. Agbani's priority was to provide employment opportunities for women, as she had witnessed the challenges faced by women in Ogoniland, who have long fought against oil companies and struggled to be heard. She was determined to prevent men from interfering with her new project of establishing a large nursery to grow hundreds of thousands of mangrove plants for sale to the Nigerian subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell. This company was responsible for destroying many of the mangroves in Ogoniland. Agbani, a strong woman with a warm personality, was hoping to create a business that would empower women financially and help restore the damaged environment. Mangroves have important natural functions, such as filtering water, preventing erosion, and providing a habitat for aquatic life that sustains humans. The Niger Delta used to have a thriving mangrove ecosystem that humans coexisted with harmoniously for centuries. However, the introduction of oil production, which the Nigerian government heavily relies on for revenue, has led to the decline of the mangrove forests. In 2011, a significant report was released by the United Nations Environment Program on pollution in Ogoniland, stating that it could take up to 30 years to address. However, the government entity responsible for remediation, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, has been sluggish in taking action. Following oil spills in 2007 and 2008 that devastated mangrove forests near Bodo, Shell agreed to compensate the community, clean up the oil, and replant. Recognizing an opportunity, Agbani saw that the company would require numerous mangroves, essential for protecting coastlines and providing crucial habitats for marine life in the Niger Delta region. She began by growing mangroves in her yard, then searched for a location to create a nursery. This led her to Yaataah, where the creek used to be filled with mangrove forests but had been depleted due to environmental disasters and the invasion of nipa palms. She organized the project's launch there and brought over 100 female mangrove planters to celebrate in late 2019. However, during the event, young men unexpectedly arrived and demanded money and snacks intended for the women. When she confronted them, explaining that the women had come to assist in revitalizing the land so that their female family members could resume harvesting periwinkles, they assaulted her. She recalled, "They were pulling me from behind. It turned into a terrible situation." Disturbed by the incident, Agbani and her group departed from Yaataah and did not come back for several months. She opted to establish the nursery in a different location; a community leader permitted her to use land near the contaminated areas in Bodo. However, she still felt a strong attachment to Yaataah. The creek was a suitable spot for practicing the cultivation of mangroves directly from seeds in the wild, rather than using plastic grow bags from the nursery in Bodo. In May 2021, the women returned to plant the mangroves, carrying sacks on their heads and wading into the creek barefoot. The water quickly became murky as they stirred up the sediment with their feet, causing Agbani to laugh and struggle to keep her footing in the mud. "Oh, dear, Martha is elderly," exclaimed the speaker. The location was ideal, with minimal oil pollution and the sounds of birds, frogs, and crickets filling the air. Similar to other creeks in the Niger Delta, this one was obstructed by nipa palms. However, Agbani had organized for villagers to clear a significant portion of the palms. The women moved quickly through the mud to the patch, passing podlike seeds from hand to hand and planting them in the mud at regular intervals as directed by Agbani. One of the women, Jessy Nubani, sang a popular call-and-response song while working. The other women harmonized with her. The young men arrived on motorcycles but stayed on shore after being scolded by Agbani. Agbani's activism was influenced by her mother's involvement in the Ogoni people's struggle against the Nigerian government and Shell in the 1990s. She dedicated years to working for the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, which was formed in response to the environmental devastation caused by multinational oil companies in the region. Agbani drew inspiration from activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was executed by the Nigerian government in 1995. She vividly recalls the day Saro-Wiwa was arrested while she was a student in Bori, his hometown, hiding in a drain and witnessing the city's reaction. She mentioned that chaos ensued as people ran in different directions while soldiers entered the communities, shooting in Bori. This traumatic event, along with Saro-Wiwa's advocacy for the rights of the oppressed, inspired her to advocate for her own community. She noted that although there were numerous organizations addressing environmental destruction, few focused on the rights of women who were disproportionately affected by oil pollution. She mentioned that women were always weeping and being victimized by various circumstances, and she felt the need to empower them. In Ogoniland, while men typically go deep-sea fishing, women traditionally stay close by, gathering shellfish for their soups or to sell. When there are no mangroves and shellfish to collect, women are forced to rely solely on men, resulting in an unhealthy dependence that often leads to violence. Agbani believed that the Ogoni people were responsible for caring for the environment, which they inherited from their ancestors and future generations. And it saddened her to witness young men from the area hindering and attempting to benefit from the women's work to restore it. "We have a strong drive," she explained. "We believe they don't truly comprehend the significance of restoring the environment." Before leaving, the leader of the young men threatened Agbani, saying he would take her to court. "I believe he was kidding. If he wants to file a lawsuit, that would be interesting," she remarked sarcastically, chuckling in disbelief. "That will be a great experience," she said as she left Yaataah on a rough road towards the nursery in Bodo. The driver moved aside to let a group of motorbikes pass by, carrying more young men who had come too late to receive the money that was available. Agbani was already on her way out.