Nigeria: Information regarding persons involved in the riots caused by an article in Ebony magazine alleging corruption of current Nigerian rulers and any difference in treatment between student and non-student rioters or those who printed or paid for the printing of pamphlets citing the corruption mentioned above

Student demonstrations and unrest on campuses around the country at the end of May 1989 resulted in the burning of some government vehicles and the ransacking of government offices. [ "Student riots against SAP", West Africa, London: West Africa Publishing Company Ltd., 5-11 June 1989, p.937.] The May demonstrations across the country, known as the anti-SAP (Structural Adjustment Program) riots, included students, non-students, workers, the unemployed and school children. [Report on Human Rights in Nigeria, Lagos: Civil Liberties Organization, 1989, p.9.] An article [ "Student riots against SAP".] also reported that the students freed 600 prisoners and set the Benin prison on fire. The same article states that a student was reportedly killed during demonstrations on 29 May 1989 at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State. Another incident at the University of Nigeria occurred when students reportedly demonstrated after one of their colleagues had allegedly been shot and wounded. [ibid.] Several students were reported to have been arrested following demonstrations at the various universities. [ibid.] The official statistics on the riots were released by the government and published in the 26 June-2 July 1989 issue of the weekly newsmagazine West Africa. This source states that 22 lives had been lost during the riots, although it does not specify if and how many of the victims were students involved in the student demonstrations. ["Official statistics on riots", West Africa, London: West Africa Publishing Company Ltd., 26 June-2 July 1989, p.1065.] However, according to Africa South of the Sahara 1990, over 50 people had been killed in Lagos and 13 universities closed by the beginning of June 1989. [ Africa South of the Sahara 1990, Nineteenth Edition, London: Europa Publications Ltd., 1990, p.774.]

                The magazine West Africa (21-27 August 1989) reports that thirty rioters have been charged in connection with last May's disturbances, in a Benin court. The October 1989 issue of the West Africa periodical states that 26 students detained for allegedly taking part in the violent anti-SAP (Structural Adjustment Program) demonstrations have been released unconditionally. It is not known which students were among this group, as there were anti-SAP demonstrations in several other universities around the country. ["Student Riots Against SAP" West Africa, (London: West Africa Publishing Company Ltd., 5-11 June 1989), p.937.]

According to the West Africa magazine of 26 June-2 July 1989, allegations of corruption on the part of Nigeria's current leaders, initially thought to have fuelled the May riots, were reported to be false and without foundation. These allegations were reportedly thought to have been circulated by Dr. Tai Solarin, a social critic and educationalist, who based his comments on information received indirectly, allegedly from a May issue of the American Ebony magazine. [ "rumours against Babangida disproved", West Africa, London: West Africa Publishing Company, 26 June-2 July 1989, p.1065.] However, the publisher of Ebony stated that his publication had not printed anything on Nigeria since 1977. [ Ibid.] The State Security Service publicly interrogated Dr. Solarin, who was presented with a copy of the Ebony issue in question. On discovery that it did not contain any allegation regarding the corrupt state of Nigeria's current leaders, Dr. Solarin was released. [ ibid.]

 According to the African Contemporary Record, allegations of official corruption are widespread. In one such instance, a Lt.-Colonel was caught attempting to smuggle 4 million Naira worth of contraband goods into Murtala Muhamed International Airport in Lagos. [C. Legum, ed., African Contemporary Record 1986-1987, Annual Survey and Documents, (New York: Africana Publishing Company, 1987), p.B117.] Corroborating information is found in Africa South of the Sahara 1989, which reports that in 1986, public officials convicted of corruption, faced sanctions which included the withdrawal of passports for a period of five years and the confiscation of assets. [ Africa South of the Sahara 1989, Eighteenth Edition, (London: Europa Publications Ltd. 1989), p.788.] The arrest of the feared criminal Lawrence "The Law" Anini in 1986, confirmed that criminals often work in league with Senior police officers. Of the ten police officers Anini implicated, five were convicted. [African Contemporary Record, p. B117.] Special Military Tribunals have been set up to try persons suspected of corrupt practices, such as currency violations, theft and forgery. [ibid.]

Although the modified 1979 Constitution provides for freedom of expression and the press, the government continues to influence publications through various techniques. [Africa South of the Sahara, p. 788.] Since the former government of Maj.-General Mohammadu Buhari, stern warnings have been issued to the press, regarding the contravention of Decree No. 4, which severely limits the political content in the press. To that end, in mid-1985, several journalists were detained and quantities of newsprint confiscated. [Africa South of the Sahara 1989, p.788.] In August 1985 a coup placed General Ibrahim Babangida at the head of the government and shortly after, several journalists were released, thus rendering Decree No. 4 unconstitutional. It was two years later that Newswatch, a popular weekly magazine whose editor-in-chief was killed by a letter bomb, published excerpts from a confidential report of the political bureau of the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC). In response, the government reportedly banned Newswatch for six months and arrested three of its executives on charges of violating the Official Secrets Act. [Africa South of the Sahara 1989, (London: Europa Publishing Company, 1989), p.789.]

 The AFRC reportedly tries to limit public political expression by cautioning journalists, privately and publicly. Consequently, self censorship is a common practice. [ibid.] The intolerance of the government regarding criticism of its policies and its officials is evidenced in the following case.

Six journalists, of The Republic, were detained over a 15 June report, alleging the involvement of a top government official in a $3.5m scandal, but have since been released. ["Protests Against Wave of Arrests", West Africa, 26 June 1989.] According to another source, The Republic's editor along with twelve staff members were arrested and the newspaper closed down to prevent the distribution of the 15 June 1989 issue. [ U.S. State Department, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1989, Washington: U.S. Government Printers, 1990, p.274.] All copies of this issue were confiscated on the grounds that it "was offensive to the nation". [ ibid.] NUJ, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, issued a statement demanding the removal of security forces from the premises of The Republic and the revocation of the ban imposed on the newspaper's State House correspondent. The statement also condemned the alleged arrest of the wife of the newspaper's editor. [West Africa, 3-9 July 1989.] Amnesty International reports that in February 1989, Femi Aborisade, editor of the socialist newspaper Labour Militant, was detained without charge. Under the State Security Decree No. 2, the Chief of Staff, the Inspector-General of Police or the Minister of Internal Affairs can order the detention of any person, considered a threat to the economy or security of the State, indefinitely and without charge, leaving the courts powerless to question detention under this decree. [Amnesty International, Urgent Action, 7 April 1989.] According to the Civil Liberties Organization, a certain Mr. Osagie Obayuwana was arrested for circulating "Free Gani" (Gani Fawehinimi, a famous controversial human rights lawyer) pamphlets in Benin City and detained for about two and a half weeks. [ Report on Human Rights in Nigeria, Civil Liberties Organization, 1989, p.7.]

Attached please find excerpts from the following documents:

-"Student Riots Against SAP" West Africa, London: West Africa Publishing Company Ltd., 5-11 June 1989.

-"Official Statistics On Riots" West Africa, London: West Africa Publishing Company Ltd., 26 June-2 July 1989.

-"Long Closure", West Africa, London: West Africa Publishing Company Ltd., 3-9 July.

-"Rioters Charged" West Africa, London: West Africa Publishing Company Ltd., 21-27 August 1989.

-Africa South of the Sahara 1990, Nineteenth Edition, London: Europa Publications Ltd., 1990, pp.771-774.

-The following issues of the Dateline section of the West Africa magazine for: 24-30 July 1989, p.1225., 11-17 December 1989, p.2075., 18-24 December 1989, p.2123., 25 December 1989-7 January 1990, p.2170., 5-11 March 1990, p.193., 12-18 March 1990, pp. 425 and 427.