Information on this specific subject is currently unavailable to the DIRB in Ottawa; nonetheless, it may be of interest to note the central role played by Campaign for Democracy (CD) and its coalition partners in the demonstrations against the annulment of the 12 June 1993 presidential election results.

The CD is a coalition of pro-democracy, human rights, women's and students' groups (The Independent 14 Aug. 1993; La Presse 15 Aug. 1993). As a follow-up to the cancellation of the election results, the CD called for three days of demonstrations to force the military out of politics and to respect the 12 June election results. The appeal received support mostly in the south-western part of the country (Inter Press Service 29 Sept. 1993; La Presse 15 Aug. 1993; Libération 13 Aug. 1993; Agence France Presse (AFP) 12 Aug. 1993). Lagos was the centre of reportedly violent demonstrations, which caused several deaths (The Economist 13 Aug. 1993; Libération 13 Aug. 1993; Agence France Presse (AFP) 12 Aug. 1993).

Some of the sources consulted mentioned the students of the universities of Ibadan and Lagos as leading participants in the demonstrations (AFP 19 Nov. 1993; ibid. 29 Sept. 1993; Reuters 30 June 1993; West Africa 25-31 Oct. 1993, 1935; ibid. 12-18 July 1993, 1201). The source did not indicate the group's links with NANS or any other student organization. The sources consulted note the central role played by the CD in calling for the demonstrations and the participation of Nigerian university students and the arrest of a former president of NANS. However, none of them mentions the involvement of a National Union of Nigerian University Students for Democracy.

West Africa in its 1-7 November 1993 issue noted that political activists calling themselves members of the Movement for Advancement of Democracy hijacked a Nigerian Airways plane and demanded that the former president, Ibrahim Babangida, be put on trial, recognition of the 12 June 1993 election results and open the newspapers closed by the former president (1975). For more information on the part played by students in the demonstrations, please refer to the attachments.

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.

Agence France Press (AFP). Francis Curta. "Cinquante huit opposants arretés à Lagos." (NEXIS)

. 19 November 1993. "Nigerian Military Ends Civilian Rule as Democratic Bodies Dissolved." (NEXIS)

. 12 August 1993. Fréderic Castel. "Lagos, ville morte au premier jour de la campagne de désobeissance civile."

The Economist [London]. 13 August 1993. "Babangida Must Go."

The Independent [London]. 14 August 1993. Karl Maier. "Lagos Strike Carries to Second Day...." (NEXIS)

Inter Press Service. 29 September 1993. Toye Olori. "Nigeria: Clashes at Start of Three Days of Pro-Democracy Protest." (NEXIS)

Libération [Paris]. 13 August 1993. "L'appel à la désobéissance civile massivement suivi à Lagos."

La Presse [Montreal]. 15 August 1993. "Nigeria: Troisième jour de désobeissance civile."

Reuters. 30 June 1993. BC Cycle. Tunde Obadina. "Nigeria's Scrapped Election Fuels Region's Anger." (NEXIS)

West Africa [London]. 7 November 1993. "Nigeria: Drama in the Skies," p.

. 25-31 October 1993. "Dateline Nigeria: Ransome-Kuti Charged."

. 12-18 July 1993. "Disturbances in Lagos."

Agence France Press (AFP). 19 November 1993. "Nigerian Military Ends Civilian Rule as Democratic Bodies Dissolved." (NEXIS)

. 29 September 1993. Francis Curta. "Cinquante huit opposants arretés à Lagos." (NEXIS)

. 12 August 1993. Fréderic Castel. "Lagos, ville morte au premier jour de la campagne de désobeissance civile."

Documentation Réfugiés [Paris]. 28 September-11 October 1993. No. 226. "Nigeria: La journée organisée le 29 septembre à Lagos...," p. 6.

The Economist [London]. 13 August 1993. "Babangida Must Go."

The Independent [London]. 30 September 1993. "Police Gas Lagos Protesters." (NEXIS)

. 14 August 1993. Karl Maier. "Lagos Strike Carries to Second Day...." (NEXIS)

. 13 August 1993. Karl Maier. "Lagos at a Standstill as Millions Join Democracy Strike...." (NEXIS)

Inter Press Service. 29 September 1993. Toye Olori. "Nigeria: Clashes at Start of Three Days of Pro-Democracy Protest." (NEXIS)

Libération [Paris]. 13 August 1993. "L'appel à la désobéissance civile massivement suivi à Lagos."

Los Angeles Times. 14 August 1993. Home Edition. "World in Brief: Nigeria: Strike Against Army Holds for 2nd Day." (NEXIS)

La Presse [Montreal]. 15 August 1993. "Nigeria: Troisième jour de désobeissance civile."

Reuters. 18 November 1993. BC Cycle. "Nigeria Democracy Group Hails Shonekan's Exit." (NEXIS)

. 30 June 1993. BC Cycle. Tunde Obadina. "Nigeria's Scrapped Election Fuels Region's Anger." (NEXIS)

West Africa [London]. 1-7 November 1993. "Nigeria: Drama in the Skies," p. 1975.

. 25-31 October 1993. "Dateline Nigeria: Ransome-Kuti Charged," p. 1935.

. 23-29 August 1993. "Dateline Nigeria: Civil Disobedience," p. 1497.

. 12-18 July 1993. "Disturbances in Lagos," p. 1201.