The death of Chief Moshood Abiola, Nigeria's most prominent political prisoner at the time, sparked off ethnic riots in the cities of Lagos, Abeokuta, Abiola's home town, and Ibadan (AFP 9 July 1998; ibid., 10 July 1998; AP 10 July 1998; The Ottawa Citizen 11 July 1998; Mail & Guardian 9 July 1998; PANA 9 July 1998).

Riots reportedly pitted Yorubas, Abiola's ethnic group, against Hausas, a mainly Muslim ethnic group dominant in northern Nigeria which had controlled Nigerian politics for more than 10 years, and whom the Yorubas blame for Chief Abiola's death (AP 10 July 1998; Mail & Guardian 9 July 1998).

Although reports differ, around 60 people were reportedly killed and several vehicles and buildings destroyed (PANA 14 July 1998, ibid., 13 July 1998, ibid., 9 July 1998; AFP 10 July 1998, ibid., 9 July 1998; The Ottawa Citizen 11 July 1998). "Many of the victims were Hausas and Fulanis." Over 400 people were initially arrested, riot police and paramilitary troops reportedly "protected" Muslim mosques in Lagos because they had been "targeted by the predominantly Christian Yorubas" (AP10 July 1998). However, the 14 July PANA news report claims that 50 people were arrested in connection with the riots.

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.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 9 July 1998. "Au moins 45 morts dans les émeutes, selon la presse." (NEXIS)

_____. "Des Haousas se livrent à des violences à Ibadan (South-ouest)." (NEXIS)

Associated Press (AP). 19 July 1998. Frank Aigbogun. 10 July 1998. "Ethnic Violence Jars Lagos, Leaders Try to Stem Ethnic Attacks." (LEXIS/NEXIS)

Mail & Guardian [Johannesburg]. 9 July 1998. "Among the Race-Hate Mobs of Lagos." http://www.mg.co.za/mg/news/98july1/9jul-nigeria.html [Accessed: 27 Oct. 1999]

The Ottawa Citizen. 11 July 1998. "Nigerian Violence Rages On: Riot Police Patrol Mosques While Foreign Pathologists Perform Autopsy on Abiola." (NEXIS)

Pan African News Agency (PANA). 14 July 1998. Paul Ejime. "Nigeria: Police Confirm 20 People Died During Abiola Riots." (NEXIS)

_____. 13 July 1998. Paul Ejime. "Calm Returns to Lagos, Along With Transport Problems." (NEXIS)

_____. 9 July 1998. Paul Ejime. "Riots Claim Several Lives As Nigerians Mourn Abiola." (NEXIS)