Nigeria Revolts

Between 60 and 80 soldiers were beaten, manacled, then driven by truck to a remote area where they were summarily executed for allegedly trying to overthrow the military dictator of this West African nation, government and intelligence sources said. The men, many of whom were noncommissioned officers in the Nigerian army, were shot to death March 18 in an isolated wood, about 25 miles north of the capital, the sources said. There was no trial, nor were formal charges filed, they said.

Violence gripped northern Nigeria on Monday, with the biggest city, Kano, still troubled after four days of Muslim-Christian fighting and reports that 16 soldiers had been killed in unrelated bloodshed elsewhere. Police said tension was high in Benue and Taraba states after the discovery of the soldiers' bodies. They had been abducted by ethnic Tiv militiamen last week as ethnic clashes between the Tiv and Jukun peoples escalated.

Military commanders began taking over from elected civilian governors as Nigeria's new dictator followed through on his decision to sweep away all traces of democracy. Gen. Sani Abacha ousted the civilian government of Ernest Shonekan, then dissolved the 30 state governments, the federal legislature and all local councils. That effectively dismantled nearly a decade of progress toward a system of elected government made under former dictator Gen.

Two days of street fighting between supporters of President Olusegun Obasanjo's ruling party and a rival party in northern Nigeria has left four people dead and 19 injured, police said. At least 68 people were arrested in connection with the mob fighting Wednesday and Thursday in Gusau, capital of the northern state of Zamfara, a police spokesman said. Security reinforcements were deployed to prevent revenge killings.

Christian and Muslim leaders promised to work together to restore peace in the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna as residents trickled back into the debris-strewn streets after religious clashes this week left hundreds dead. The reported death toll ranged from 200 to more than 300. Fighting erupted Monday during a demonstration by Christians against a proposal to bring Islamic law, or Sharia, to Kaduna state. Talks between the religious leaders continued.

Anti-riot police patrolled streets in parts of Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, amid days of fighting between the northern predominantly Muslim Hausas and the southern-based Christian Yorubas that has killed dozens of people. More than 20 people were arrested in connection with the fighting, and leaders of the two groups agreed to meet in a bid to restore calm.

One of Nigeria's former military rulers was arrested Monday in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow the current junta. Retired Lt. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, who headed a military government from 1976 to 1979, was arrested at his farmhouse outside Lagos, an aide said. More than 30 people have been arrested in the alleged plot.

Two of Nigeria's leading newspapers failed to appear on the streets Sunday after armed police sealed off their premises and took away an editor, continuing a crackdown begun after an abortive coup in April. Frank Aigbogun, news editor of the Vanguard, said police occupied the newspaper's offices and those of the Daily Champion on Saturday afternoon. Champion editor Emma Agu was arrested, he said.

A bomb exploded in Lagos near a bus filled with soldiers, state-run radio and witnesses said. The exact casualty toll was not immediately known, but the News Agency of Nigeria quoted witnesses as saying they saw one soldier killed and at least 15 people wounded. Radio later reported that a schoolboy also was killed, but there was no official confirmation. The blast was the fourth in the city in the last two months. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The military said it was not yet ready to reveal the whereabouts of 12 people arrested for allegedly plotting to topple army ruler Gen. Sani Abacha, including Abacha's deputy, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya. "There is no news," defense headquarters spokesman Col. Godwin Ugbo said in the nation's main city, Lagos. He added that more details of the alleged coup, which he said had been planned for Sunday, would be released in due course.

As a humanitarian gesture, Nigeria said it would allow a ship stranded off West Africa with 180 Liberian refugees on board to dock. A Foreign Ministry statement deplored the plight of the Liberians, who are apparently fleeing violence in their homeland. The U.N. said they have been marooned on the Alnar for nearly two weeks after being denied entry by Ghana and Benin.

Anti-riot police patrolled streets in parts of Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, amid days of fighting between the northern predominantly Muslim Hausas and the southern-based Christian Yorubas that has killed dozens of people. More than 20 people were arrested in connection with the fighting, and leaders of the two groups agreed to meet in a bid to restore calm.

Christian and Muslim leaders promised to work together to restore peace in the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna as residents trickled back into the debris-strewn streets after religious clashes this week left hundreds dead. The reported death toll ranged from 200 to more than 300. Fighting erupted Monday during a demonstration by Christians against a proposal to bring Islamic law, or Sharia, to Kaduna state. Talks between the religious leaders continued.

Traders from rival ethnic groups clashed at a market in a suburb of Nigeria's main commercial city Thursday, leaving at least 27 people dead and dozens of market stalls destroyed by fire, police said. The Yoruba and Hausa traders have been vying for control of the sprawling food market in Kedu, about 10 miles north of Lagos.

The military said it was not yet ready to reveal the whereabouts of 12 people arrested for allegedly plotting to topple army ruler Gen. Sani Abacha, including Abacha's deputy, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya. "There is no news," defense headquarters spokesman Col. Godwin Ugbo said in the nation's main city, Lagos. He added that more details of the alleged coup, which he said had been planned for Sunday, would be released in due course.

A bomb exploded in Lagos near a bus filled with soldiers, state-run radio and witnesses said. The exact casualty toll was not immediately known, but the News Agency of Nigeria quoted witnesses as saying they saw one soldier killed and at least 15 people wounded. Radio later reported that a schoolboy also was killed, but there was no official confirmation. The blast was the fourth in the city in the last two months. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

As a humanitarian gesture, Nigeria said it would allow a ship stranded off West Africa with 180 Liberian refugees on board to dock. A Foreign Ministry statement deplored the plight of the Liberians, who are apparently fleeing violence in their homeland. The U.N. said they have been marooned on the Alnar for nearly two weeks after being denied entry by Ghana and Benin.

Former Nigerian military leader Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo has been released from detention in response to a plea by former President Jimmy Carter but is restricted to his hometown, Nigeria's information minister said Thursday. "Because of the intervention of President Carter, Gen. Obasanjo has been allowed to stay at his hometown, but he is still restricted pending completion of investigation," Walter Ofonagoro said.

Between 60 and 80 soldiers were beaten, manacled, then driven by truck to a remote area where they were summarily executed for allegedly trying to overthrow the military dictator of this West African nation, government and intelligence sources said. The men, many of whom were noncommissioned officers in the Nigerian army, were shot to death March 18 in an isolated wood, about 25 miles north of the capital, the sources said. There was no trial, nor were formal charges filed, they said.

Former Nigerian military leader Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo has been released from detention in response to a plea by former President Jimmy Carter but is restricted to his hometown, Nigeria's information minister said Thursday. "Because of the intervention of President Carter, Gen. Obasanjo has been allowed to stay at his hometown, but he is still restricted pending completion of investigation," Walter Ofonagoro said.