Nigeria: Bombing incidents at Lagos airport between June 1996 and November 1997, including identity of persons injured, reaction of authorities and outcome of investigations or prosecutions
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | NGA31152.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Nigeria: Bombing incidents at Lagos airport between June 1996 and November 1997, including identity of persons injured, reaction of authorities and outcome of investigations or prosecutions, 1 February 1999, NGA31152.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab4d1c.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No reports of bombing incidents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos between June 1996 and November 1997 could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
However, a bomb explosion that killed three on 14 November 1996, although reported by various news sources as having been detonated near the airport (Africa News 16 Dec. 1996; DPA 13 Dec. 1996), is mentioned in some later reports as the "November 1996 car-bomb at Lagos international airport" and the "airport bomb blast in November" (AI 29 June 1998; ibid. 22 Sept. 1997; NMM 28 Sept. 1998). That bomb killed the chief security officer of the airport, Olushola Omoshola (PANA 8 May 1997), and a man named Nelson Gbolahor Kasim (Radio Kudirat 29 Nov. 1996).
The bomb was one of many detonated throughout Lagos and Nigeria in 1995 and 1996; the series of bombings prompted the establishment of a Presidential task Force on Anti-Terrorist Acts, chaired by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Hassan Biu (NMM 28 Sept. 1998).
Police reportedly said that "the explosion in November was a bungled one in which agents of the exiled opposition whom they blame for the blasts were killed on their way to plant bombs at Lagos airport" (Reuters 11 Jan. 1997). The authorities eventually accused at least two of the November 1996 bomb victims "of being NADECO [National Democratic Coalition] agents" (AI 22 Sept. 1997). Persons related to or associated with the victims were among 16 arrested in relation to this and other bombings, some of whom were released in mid-June 1998 (AI 29 June 1998).
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.
References
Amnesty International [London]. 29 June 1998. "Nigeria: Further Releases of Prisoners of Conscience--A Step Forward." (AI Index: AFR 44/36/98) [Internet]
_____. 22 September 1997. "Nigeria: No Significant Change--Human Rights Violations Continue." (AI Index: AFR 44/20/97) [Internet]
Deutsche Press Agentur (DPA). 13 December 1996. "Nigerian Government Warns Opposition." (NEXIS)
Nigeria Media Monitor (NMM), Lagos. 28 September 1998. No. 3-38. "Interview: BIU Insists On Kaltho's Death." [Internet]
Panafrican News Agency (PANA), Dakar. 16 December 1996. Paul Ejime. "Nigeria: Lagos Military Administrator Escapes Bomb Blast." (Africa News/NEXIS).
_____. 8 May 1997. "Five Arrested Over Wednesday's Lagos Bombing." [Internet]
Radio Kudirat, Nigeria. 29 November 1996. "NADECO Figure Denies Involvement in Bomb Blast." (BBC Summary/NEXIS)
Reuters World Service. 11 January 1997. "Lagos Detains Ex-Minister Over Bombs, Papers Say." (NEXIS)
