1976: Lt. Col. Bukar Dimka and six coup confederates
On this date in 1976, Nigeria executed the leading spirit of an abortive Nigerian coup was shot for the “abortive” part of that coup. That February 13, Bukar Dimka had taken to the airwaves to announce...
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1899: Ologbosere, of the Benin Empire
On this date in 1899, British forces occupying Benin City hanged a local tribal leader for the massacre whose perpetration had justified London’s, er, “humanitarian” intervention. The locale of today’s...
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1990: Gideon Orkar, for a Nigerian coup
On this date in 1990, Nigerian Major Gideon Gwaza Orkar and dozens of others* were shot for a coup attempt against that country’s military strongman, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. Orkar was the guy on state...
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1994: Not Arthur Judah Angel, death row artist
On this date in 1994, 38 people were executed at Nigeria’s Enugu Prison … but artist Arthur Judah Angel somehow was not among them. Angel was convicted of armed robbery and murder: tortured and framed,...
View Article1981: Nasiru Bello, a little overeagerly
It’s certainly understandable that dilatory appeals leaving it nigh-impossible to actually carry out a meritorious death sentence provoke aggravation. But as always, one is left in the real sphere of...
View Article1995: 43 armed robbers
On this date in 1995, Nigeria’s military dictatorship struck a bloody blow against the country’s surging crime waves with a mass execution of 43 prisoners at Kirikiri prison in Lagos. Soldiers dressed...
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1971: Ishola Oyenusi, smiling to his death
On this date in 1971, the Nigerian robber Ishola Oyenusi — “smil[ing] to his death,” in the words of the next day’s paper — was publicly shot with his gang at Lagos Bar Beach. Dubbed “the most...
View Article1967: The Asaba Massacre
The Asaba Massacre during Nigeria’s Biafran War culminated on this date in 1967 with a horrific mass execution. Nigeria had attained independence in 1960 but still carried the legacy of its many...
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1987: Lawrence Anini, The Law
Nigerian bandit Lawrence Anini was executed on this date in 1987. Strongman of a well-armed gang whose robberies and hijackings terrorized Benin Cty, Anini in 1986 fell out with his erstwhile police...
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