On 1 May 1998 an anti-Abacha demonstration was reportedly staged in the city of Ibadan in Oyo state (Theweek 18 May 1998; IPS 11 May 1998; Keesing's May 1998, 42257; PANA 14 May 1998). "The protestors, estimated to number some 5,000 were demanding that the country's military leader, Gen. Sani Abacha, relinquish power and that six men from the south-western region who had received death sentences in April for plotting a coup have their sentences commuted" (Keesing's May 1998, 42257).

The incident reportedly resulted in the death of seven people and damage targeted at the property of two pro-Abacha campaigners: Alao Arisekola and Lamidi Adedibu, including their vehicles and houses (Theweek 18 May 1998; PANA 14 May 1998; IPS 11 May 1998). "Adedibu's six cars and three houses were reportedly razed. On his part, Arisekola had his entire Monitor publishing house and 11 cars parked in the premises completely burnt. However, the police were said to have prevented the torching of his mini flour mill" (Theweek 18 May 1998). According to PANA, substantial damage was done to "property including houses, vehicles and a newspaper house run by an Ibadan-based Muslim leader, Alao Arisekola" (14 May 1998). An IPS report states that "the offices of the "Monitor" newspaper and establishments owned by Abacha-ally Arisekola Alao, a businessman, and the homes of relations of politician Lamidi Adedibu were destroyed in the city..." (11 May 1998).

Forty people were arrested and charged following the protest in Ibadan. These included Femi Adeoti, the editor of an independent newspaper, and Ola Oni, the leader of United Action for Democracy (UAD), the opposition grouping which had organized the demonstration. All the detainees were refused bail on May 25 on the grounds that they were planning to stage another protest in June. Olisa Agbakoba, the chairman of the UAD, was arrested on May 8 as he returned from abroad, but he, along with a number of other opposition activists arrested during the month, had not been formally arraigned by the end of May (Keesing's May 1998, 42257).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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

Inter Presss Service (IPS). 11 May 1998. Remi Oyo. "Politics-Nigeria: Limping From Crisis to Crisis." http://www.oneworld.org/ips2/may98/16_47_058.html [Accessed 1 May 2002]
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. May 1998. "Nigeria: Anti-government Unrest - Arrest of Opposition Activists."

Pan African News Agency (PANA). 14 May 1998. Paul Ejime. "Nigeria: 37 Charged Over Nigerian May-Day Riot." (NEXIS)

Theweek. 18 May 1998. Omenuwa, Onyema. "Ecjoes of "Wild Wild West." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series

IRB Databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

New African

Resource Centre. Country File.

West Africa

Internet sites including:

All Africa

Guardian

Vanguard

Search engines including:

Google

Hotbot

Mamma