Risk of unrest after killings of Minister of Justice and secretary of the Supreme Court [ID 15160]

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Suspected thug of governor Ladoja assassinated ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22722]

"On March 6, unidentified gunmen assassinated Taofiki Onigboho at his residence in Ibadan. Onigboho was related to Sunday Igboho, a suspected thug of Governor Rasheed Ladoja, who was being sought by police in connection with the February violence in Akure."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Kogi State: A principal witness in state´s election tribunal and member of the Action Congress assassinated; ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22723]

"On August 19, Victor Obafaiye, the principal witness for the Action Congress in the Kogi State election tribunal, was assassinated. Obafaiye was crucial to the case as he was supposedly in possession of documents that would have served as evidence of election tampering by PDP House of Assembly candidate Dino Melaye."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

On the 29 May 2007 gang leader was killed who was assumed to have participated in the kidnaping of the incoming governer's mother ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23387]

"On May 29, gang leader Prince Igodo was killed during a gun battle allegedly led by Soboma George. It was widely believed that a former governor contracted George to kill Igodo to prevent his disruption of the new governor's inauguration and as retribution for Igodo's role in kidnapping the incoming governor's mother earlier in the year."

Document(s): Open document

06.2007 - Source: Freedom House

2 prominent PDP politicians were assassinated in 2006, which raised fears of a bloody electoral campaign in 2007 ("Freedom in the World 2007") [ID 20551]

"Two prominent Nigerian politicians were assassinated in 2006, which raised fears of a bloody electoral campaign in 2007. In July, Funsho Williams, a leading Lagos politician and PDP member, was found murdered at his Lagos home. Williams had run twice for governor of Lagos State and had been expected to do so again in 2007. In August, Ayo Daramola, the PDP candidate for governor in southwestern Ekiti State and a former World Bank consultant, was stabbed to death. Rewards were offered for information leading to the murderers, but no one was convicted by year’s end."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Unknown gunmen killed the wife of former Kano State Governor Alhaji Abubakar Rimi ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19464]

"There were several killings by unknown assailants that may have been politically motivated. For example, on January 14, unknown gunmen killed Hajiya Saudatu Rimi, the wife of former Kano State Governor Alhaji Abubakar Rimi. Charges against Rimi's stepson, who had been charged with the crime, were dismissed in October, and no others were filed by year's end."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Gubernatorial aspirant Jesse Aruku of the Advanced Congress of Democrats party abducted and kiled in July ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19465]

"Plateau State gubernatorial aspirant Jesse Aruku of the Advanced Congress of Democrats party was abducted on June 30 or July 1 and killed on July 2. Police stated that the motive was assassination rather than robbery and arrested several persons. The trial had not begun by year's end."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Lagos State: Funsho Williams, gubernatorial candidate of the ruling PDP, was killed in July ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19467]

"On July 27, Lagos State gubernatorial candidate Funsho Williams, who had been seeking the nomination of the ruling PDP, was tied up, stabbed several times, and strangled to death. The two police officers responsible for guarding Williams' home did not report for work on July 27. An investigation was ongoing at year's end."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

PDP gubernatorial candidate Ayodeji Daramola was killed in August by unknown assassins ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19469]

"In the early morning hours of August 14, Ekiti State PDP gubernatorial candidate Ayodeji Daramola was killed in the bedroom of his home by unknown assassins. On November 16, eight persons, including an advisor to former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose, were arraigned before an Ekiti high court on charges of conspiracy and the murder of Daramola. Their trial was ongoing at year's end."

Document(s): Open document

01.2005 - Source: Danish Immigration Service

Report on a joint British-Danish fact finding mission to Abuja and Lagos (19 Oct – 2 Nov 2004): human rights, trafficking in women, justice system, prison conditions and availability of medical treatment ("Report on human rights issues in Nigeria: Joint British-Danish fact-finding mission to Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria (19 October to 2 November 2004)") [#30412],  [ID 15135]

"3.1.5. The IRIN report continued: “There has been a long list of unsolved political murders since Obasanjo’s election to office in 1999, which ended more than 15 years of military rule. One high-profile case was that of former justice minister Bola Ige, murdered in December 2002 in his home in the southwestern city of Ibadan. Though Ige was from the Alliance for Democracy (AD), he was also a member of Obasanjo’s cabinet.”
3.1.6. IRIN added: “The recent spate of deaths has aroused much suspicion since some of the victims are political and state officials. […] All the recent killings have targeted members of the ruling PDP or individuals with ties to the party. Opposition politician Balarabe Musa of the People’s Redemption Party blamed the ruling party for most of the violence, urging it to look inward for those responsible for its members’ deaths. According to Musa, much of the violence is a result of rigging in the April 2003 presidential and parliamentary elections compounded, he claimed, by plans to rig local polls on 27 March 2004.”

3.1.7. HRW reported in early January 2005: “Several opponents or critics of the government have been arrested, harassed, and intimidated. Scores of people were killed in violence related to the local elections in March [2004]. […] Politically motivated killings and violence continued to be a regular occurrence in Nigeria. Most incidents of violence involve fighting between factions of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) or between the supporters of the PDP and the main opposition All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP).

Local party leaders regularly hire and arm thugs to intimidate political opponents, and then protect them from prosecution. In the weeks preceding the local government elections in March 2004, numerous prominent politicians were killed or targeted in assassination attempts. Local candidates, election officials and rank and file party members were also killed in many incidents that went unreported”."

Document(s): Open document

01.2005 - Source: Danish Immigration Service

Since Obasanjo was elected in 1999 there were many political murders, such as the case of former justice minister Ige in 2002 ("Report on human rights issues in Nigeria: Joint British-Danish fact-finding mission to Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria (19 October to 2 November 2004)") [#30412],  [ID 20641]

"The IRIN report continued: “There has been a long list of unsolved political murders since Obasanjo’s election to office in 1999, which ended more than 15 years of military rule. One high-profile case was that of former justice minister Bola Ige, murdered in December 2002 in his home in the southwestern city of Ibadan. Though Ige was from the Alliance for Democracy (AD), he was also a member of Obasanjo’s cabinet.”"

Document(s): Open document

01.2005 - Source: Danish Immigration Service

Opposition politician Musa blamed PDP of violence after rigging in 2003 elections ("Report on human rights issues in Nigeria: Joint British-Danish fact-finding mission to Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria (19 October to 2 November 2004)") [#30412],  [ID 20642]

"[...] IRIN added: “The recent spate of deaths has aroused much suspicion since some of the victims are political and state officials. […] All the recent killings have targeted members of the ruling PDP or individuals with ties to the party. Opposition politician Balarabe Musa of the People’s Redemption Party blamed the ruling party for most of the violence, urging it to look inward for those responsible for its members’ deaths. According to Musa, much of the violence is a result of rigging in the April 2003 presidential and parliamentary elections compounded, he claimed, by plans to rig local polls on 27 March 2004.”"

Document(s): Open document

01.2005 - Source: Danish Immigration Service

According to a study political killings increased during and after elections 2003; law enforcement agencies unable to resolve them ("Report on human rights issues in Nigeria: Joint British-Danish fact-finding mission to Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria (19 October to 2 November 2004)") [#30412],  [ID 20648]

"A study undertaken by LEDAP states that “while other cases of violations are a continuing occurrence, cases of political killings were seen to be more rampant during and immediately after the 2003 general elections. While the violations by the security agents, religious and cult killings were easily classifiable as either state actors or non-state actors, the perpetrators of political killings could not be classified. This is due to the inability of the law enforcement agencies to resolve any of them.”"

Document(s): Open document

23.06.2004 - Source: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

Query response on post-election (2003) violence in Ogun state between members of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) ("Post-election (2003) violence in Ogun state between members of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP); whether state protection is available for members of the PDP and their families who have been threatened or harmed by members of the AD [NGA42744.E]") [ID 24523]

Document(s): Open document
Open document

06.2004 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Report focused on Nigeria’s 2003 elections (patterns of violence) ("Nigeria’s 2003 Elections: The Unacknowledged Violence") [#23029],  [ID 15136]

Document(s): Open document

29.03.2004 - Source: BBC News

Nigeria's ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) has won a sweeping victory in local elections during which almost 50 people died ("Nigeria's ruling party wins poll") [#20894],  [ID 15137]

"(...)

Controversial elections

About 20 people died in central Plateau State on Friday at the eve of the poll. Clashes broke out between the Tarok and Hausa-Fulani people in Wase town, near Jos, reportedly in an attempt to disrupt the voting.

Seven more people had been shot or slashed to death in the oil-rich Rivers state, Anyakwee Nsirimovu, an observer with the non-governmental organisation Transition Monitoring Group, told Reuters news agency.

Nigerian media reports say more people were killed in four other states during the controversial local government elections.

The BBC's Sola Odunfa in Lagos says many Nigerians declined to participate saying they felt their votes would not count as the election was "pre-determined". Our correspondent says both the ruling PDP and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) - the main opposition grouping - have been blamed for the violence.

(...)

In the northern city of Kano on Saturday police fired warning shots when a mob outside a polling station tried to attack an opposition dignitary.

Two election candidates died in the run-up to the poll."

Document(s): Open document

10.07.2003 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Several people killed by the police and others severely beaten/ the incidents form part of a broader pattern of increased harassment and intimidation of critics of the Nigerian government ("Nigeria: Bush Should Condemn Police Brutality") [#14267],  [ID 15138]

Document(s): Open document

28.05.2003 - Source: Amnesty International

Political violence was particularly acute in Ebonyi and Bayelsa States ("Annual Report 2003") [#13067],  [ID 15139]

"Allegations of politically motivated killings and acts of harassment and intimidation spread throughout the country, with allegations of involvement of individual members of state and local governments and political parties. Political violence was particularly acute in Ebonyi and Bayelsa States. Thirteen people were arrested in connection with the assassination in 2001 of Bola Ige, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Republic. They were charged with murder and complicity in murder in October.
On 1 September Barnabas Igwe, president of the Nigerian Bar Association in Anambra State, and his wife were killed by a group of people armed with machetes. Barnabas Igwe had publicly opposed state-endorsed vigilante groups in Anambra and openly criticized the governor of the state."

Document(s): Open document
Open document

14.05.2003 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

At least 25 people killed in the volatile southern oil town of Warri ("25 die in political clashes in Warri") [#12731],  [ID 15140]

Document(s): Open document

14.05.2003 - Source: BBC News

12,000 people have fled their homes following clashes in and around the town of Warri ("New clashes in Nigerian oil town") [#12780],  [ID 15141]

Document(s): Open document

14.05.2003 - Source: Washington Post

Warri: at least 10 people killed in political and ethnic clashes/ around 12,000 people had fled the area ("Fighting Flares in Nigerian Oil Town of Warri") [#12791],  [ID 15142]

Document(s): Open document

06.05.2003 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

At least 9 people killed in violence related to the elections for Nigeria's 36 state legislatures/ president Olusegun Obasanjo's ruling People's Democratic Party won a majority in 18 of the 24 states declared so far ("Nigeria: Nine killed in elections to state assemblies") [#12396],  [ID 15143]

Document(s): Open document

10.04.2003 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Report documenting numerous cases of political violence across Nigeria during December 2002 and February 2003/ the upsurge of politically motivated violence is threatening the legitimacy of impending elections ("Testing democracy: Political violence in Nigeria") [#11974],  [ID 15144]

Document(s): Open document

31.03.2003 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Imo State: at least 7 members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) killed during a confrontation with the police / the group's leader and 300 other members reportedly arrested ("Seven killed as police clash with separatists") [#11677],  [ID 15145]

Document(s): Open document

31.03.2003 - Source: BBC News

Dozens of people are feared dead following a clash between rival party supporters near the southern city of Port Harcourt ("Political violence in Nigeria") [#11667],  [ID 15146]

Document(s): Open document

29.03.2003 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Threats and intimidation against political activists in Nigeria ("Violence Against Nigerian Political Activist") [#11647],  [ID 15147]

Document(s): Open document

29.03.2003 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Political activists subject to more violence in Nigeria ("Violence Against Nigerian Political Activist") [#11647],  [ID 15148]

Document(s): Open document

25.03.2003 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Suspected leaders of the protests against the president Obasanjo's campaign for re-election in Makurdi arrested ("Focus on political parties' campaign strategies") [#11600],  [ID 15149]

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2003 - Source: Washington Post

Marshall Harry senior member of Nigeria's main opposition party shot dead ("Nigerian Opposition Official Killed") [#11273],  [ID 15150]

Document(s): Open document
02631nig.htm

05.03.2003 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Harry Marshall, prominent member of the main opposition party shot dead in Abuja ("Nigeria: Opposition politician shot dead") [#11266],  [ID 15151]

Document(s): Open document

02.12.2002 - Source: BBC News

Kaduna: Muslim leader Nafiu Baba Ahmed, secretary general of the Supreme Council for Sharia, arrested by secret police/ arrest allegedly politically motivated ("Muslim cleric held after Nigeria riots") [#9811],  [ID 15157]

Document(s): Open document

23.09.2002 - Source: BBC News

Opposition politician killed in the northern state of Kano ("Gunmen kill Nigerian politician") [#8669],  [ID 15152]

"The family of an influential northern Nigerian politician has appealed for justice after his assassination by unknown gunmen. The family of the man, Isyaku Mohammed, said they believed his killing on Sunday was politically motivated because the killers had not stolen anything.
Mr Mohammed, from Kano, was said to have been a vocal critic of the federal government and was the deputy chairman of a new opposition party, the United Nigeria People's Party.
The gunmen dragged him from his bed and shot him in the forehead. His wife, sleeping in another bedroom, heard the shots.
Correspondents say Mr Mohammed was close to former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida who some believe may stand for president possibly using Mr Mohammed's party.
Political tensions are rising in Nigeria as it prepares to hold its presidential, general and local elections early next year."

Document(s): Open document

19.09.2002 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Targeting and killing of opponents of Anambra State government ("Nigeria: Government Critics at Risk After Political Killings") [#8634],  [ID 15154]

"Barnabas Igwe and his wife Abigail, also a lawyer, were killed in Onitsha on September 1, the day after they returned from the southwestern town of Ibadan where they had attended a national conference of the NBA. They were traveling home when a group of assailants attacked them with machetes and shot them several times, then ran them over with their vehicle. According to the police, the perpetrators did not steal anything from the victims.

In the days preceding the killing, Igwe and other close colleagues who had denounced abuses by the state government received direct threats from senior officials in the Anambra state government, face to face and through telephone calls on personal mobile phones. The threats were explicitly linked to criticisms by Igwe and his colleagues of the state government’s failure to pay the salaries of government workers for several months. The lawyers had given the government a 21-day ultimatum to pay the salary arrears or resign; they had made these calls in public statements, widely broadcast through the media. State government officials had previously made repeated attempts to silence them, for example by offering bribes to withdraw their statements, which they rejected.[...]
This is not the first time that opponents of the Anambra state government have been targeted. In a report published in May 2002, Human Rights Watch and the Lagos-based Centre for Law Enforcement Education documented several other cases of politically motivated killings, arrests and torture by the Bakassi Boys, a vigilante group used by the Anambra state government to intimidate its opponents. Among those targeted for their perceived opposition to the state government were Prophet Eddie Okeke, killed in November 2000; Chief Ezeodumegwu G. Okonkwo, a local government chairman killed in February 2001; and Ifeanyi Ibegbu, minority leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly, detained and tortured by the Bakassi Boys in August 2000. No one has been prosecuted in these cases."

Document(s): Open document

23.07.2002 - Source: New York Times

Clashes between rival gangs in oil-rich Niger Delta resulted in killing of several, oil firms are accused of meddling in election rivalry ("Dozens Killed in Fighting in Nigeria") [#7938],  [ID 15153]

"The fighting erupted July 20 between members of the Tama Boys and Isoungufuro, rival gangs led by local politicians Nimi Barigha Amange and Lionel Jonathan. Both men want to contest local Aug. 10 elections under the banner of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.
The clash apparently came in response to an earlier round of fighting between the two factions that disrupted July 5 party elections called to decide local candidates. At least 20 people were killed in that initial outburst.
The latest bloodletting lasted nearly three days before subsiding on Sunday night, when Bayelsa police commissioner Udon Ekpoudon said squads of heavily armed police were deployed to restore calm.
Ekpoudon could not provide casualty figures, although witnesses and political activists who visited Nembe Monday spoke of seeing more than 30 decaying bodies littering town streets.
Activists included Robert Azibaola, president of the Niger Delta Humanitarian and Environmental Rights Organization. Other witnesses spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
Both sides in the fighting accused the other of having curried the favor -- and financial backing -- of several multinational oil companies that drill for crude nearby.
The oil firms have denied a role in political violence, which regularly flares in the Delta."

Document(s): 02325nig.htm
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23.07.2002 - Source: Human Rights Watch

HRW: Pre-Election Violence ("Letter to Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Walter Kansteiner") [#8586],  [ID 15156]

"One of the main concerns for the rest of 2002 and 2003 is the likely increase in political violence in the period leading up to elections. Local elections scheduled for August 2002 and state and presidential elections scheduled for 2003 have already created a sharp increase in political tension and political party infighting, as well as actual violence. In recent weeks, in the context of primaries for the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the local level, there have been a series of attacks, primarily carried out by thugs hired by rival candidates. These have resulted in several deaths and serious injuries, in different parts of the country, particularly in some of the southern states. This is just the first stage, so unless effective measures are taken promptly to bring those responsible to account, it is likely the violence will increase as the political stakes rise.

President Olusegun Obasanjo has put forward a bill outlawing political violence. However, this initiative, as well as general statements by federal government officials condemning acts of violence, appear to be ignored at the local level and are seen by many Nigerians simply as measures to pacify international opinion.

There has also been much controversy over the electoral bill and the restrictions on the number of political parties allowed to register for elections. After much heated discussion, three additional parties were allowed to register, bringing the total to six, but many parties that were not allowed to register are complaining bitterly about the arbitrariness and lack of transparency in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision-making process."

Document(s): Open document

30.06.2002 - Source: BBC News

Isaden's traditional ruler injured in attack in Ondo state ("Political violence flares in Nigeria") [#7658],  [ID 15158]

"A traditional ruler in Nigeria is reported to be among 100 people who were injured in political violence in the south-western town of Idasen, in Ondo State.
The French news agency AFP quotes a police spokesman as saying Isaden's traditional ruler, Oba Folagbade Okikiola, and his followers were attacked after the chief had hosted the state governor in his palace.
He said the chief was attacked and almost killed by political opponents armed with machetes, guns and stones."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2002 - Source: BBC News

At least 2 students killed by police in the south-eastern town of Warri after a rally by the ruling People's Democratic Party ("Students killed in Nigeria") [#5869],  [ID 15159]

Document(s): Open document

27.12.2001 - Source: Frankfurter Rundschau

Minister of Justice Bola Ige killed by unknown persons; concern about threatening unrest in south-eastern regions ("Ministermord in Nigeria schürt Angst vor Unruhen") [#5129],  [ID 15161]

Document(s): Open document

20.12.2001 - Source: Washington Post

Lawmaker who supported a deputy state governor embroiled in a political feud killed ("Nigeria Killing Sparks Clashes") [#5093],  [ID 15162]

Document(s): Open document

09.11.2001 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

2 civilians killed when police fired shots to disperse a peaceful student demonstration ("Nigeria: Punish trigger-happy police, rights group urges") [#4605],  [ID 15163]

Document(s): Open document

06.10.2001 - Source: Washington Post

4 people killed and 19 injured in fighting between supporters of President Olusegun Obasanjo's ruling party and a rival party in northern Nigeria ("Nigeria Violence Kills Four") [#4235],  [ID 15164]

Document(s): 02153nig.htm
Open document

05.07.2001 - Source: Amnesty International

Activists of O'odua People's Congress (OPC) may still be in danger of political persecution ("Stellungnahme v. 05.07.2001 an VG Hannover (German)") [#3984],  [ID 15165]

Document(s): 0957nig.doc

09.03.2001 - Source: BBC News

2 people shot by police during a student protest ("Two shot in Lagos student protest") [#1350],  [ID 15166]

Document(s): Open document