Information on student demonstrations and/or riots at Edo State University in August 1994 [NGA21864.E]

Information on student demonstrations at Edo State University in August 1994 could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB. However, the following information pertaining to student demonstrations in Edo State in August 1994 may be of interest.

The BBC World Service attachment of 19 August 1994 briefly refers to a riot that began in Benin on 16 August 1994 and was "reportedly led by students of the University of Benin.

On 18 August 1994, Radio Nigeria Network reported the closure of the University of Benin following "disturbances" in Edo State the previous day. Students were asked to vacate the campus (ibid.).

According to the October 1994 Human Rights Watch/Africa report entitled Nigeria: 'The Dawn of a New Dark Age,'

since mid-August, a number of students and others have been killed in Edo state, in reprisal attacks against violent demonstrations there in August. In addition, a number of female students have been raped in the attacks (2).

According to Africa Research Bulletin, a 31 August 1994 student demonstration in Edo State resulted in violent clashes with security forces in which approximately 100 people were allegedly killed (21 Sept. 1994, 11557). The students were demanding the release of Moshood Abiola (ibid.), "the presumed winner of last year's elections" (AFP 18 Aug. 1994). The Africa No. 1 attachment discuses briefly the mounting tension "following reprisals taken by security forces against students of the University of Benin City and the University of Ekpoma" in Edo State (31 Aug. 1994).

The 25 August 1994 Radio Nigeria attachment refers to an indefinite number of Edo State students suspected of being "area boys and hoodlums" who are being interrogated by the police.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Africa No. 1 [Libreville, in French]. 31 August 1994. "Further on Edo State Violence." (FBIS-AFR-94-169 31 Aug. 1994, p. 21)

Africa Research Bulletin: Political Series [London]. 21 September 1994. Vol. 31, No. 8. "Protestors' Death."

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in English]. 18 August 1994. Jacques Pinto. "Unions Say Strike Continues, Warn of Further Protests." (FBIS-AFR-94-161 19 Aug. 1994, p. 28)

BBC World Service [London, in English]. 19 August 1994. "Unrest Spreads; Former NUPENG Leader Views Appointees." (FBIS-AFR-94-162 22 Aug. 1994, p. 26)

Human Rights Watch/Africa. October 1994. Nigeria: 'The Dawn of a New Dark Age.' New York: Human Rights Watch/Africa.

Radio Nigeria Network [Lagos, in English]. 18 August 1994. "University of Benin Closed After Disturbances." (FBIS-AFR-94-161 19 Aug. 1994, p. 28)

Attachments

Africa No. 1 [Libreville, in French]. 31 August 1994. "Further on Edo State Violence." (FBIS-AFR-94-169 31 Aug. 1994, p. 21)

Africa Research Bulletin: Political Series [London]. 21 September 1994. Vol. 31, No. 8. "Protestors' Death," p. 11557.

BBC World Service [London, in English]. 19 August 1994. "Unrest Spreads; Former NUPENG Leader Views Appointees." (FBIS-AFR-94-162 22 Aug. 1994, p. 26)

Human Rights Watch/Africa. October 1994. Nigeria: 'The Dawn of a New Dark Age.' New York: Human Rights Watch/Africa, p. 2.

Radio Nigeria [Kaduna, in English]. 25 August 1994. "Edo State Police Declare Former Governor, Others Wanted." (FBIS-AFR-94-166 26 Aug. 1994, p. 14)

Radio Nigeria Network [Lagos, in English]. 18 August 1994. "University of Benin Closed After Disturbances." (FBIS-AFR-94-161 19 Aug. 1994, p. 28)

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Report [New York]. Bi-monthly. July to December 1994.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political Series [London]. Monthly. August to October 1994.

Amnesty International 1995. 1995.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 1994. 1995.

Current History [Philadelphia]. Monthly. September 1994 to present.

DIRB "Amnesty International: Nigeria" country file. August and September 1994.

DIRB "Nigeria" country file. August and September 1994.

Documentation, Information and Research Branch (DIRB), Immigration and Refugee Board, Ottawa. June 1995. Nigeria: Chronology of Events, January 1992 February 1995.

The Economist [London]. Weekly. August and September 1994.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports. August to October 1994.

HCR Views database.

Human Rights Watch World Report 1995. 1994.

International Services Group (ISG), Citizenship and Immigration Canada [Hull]. Infrequent reports.

Jeune Afrique [Paris]. Weekly. August and September 1994.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. Monthly. August to October 1994.

New African [London]. Monthly. July to October 1994.

News from Africa Watch. 1994.

Office of Asylum Affairs (OAA), Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, United States. March 1995. Nigeria: Profile of Asylum Claims and Country Conditions.

West Africa [London]. Weekly. August and September 1994.