On June 12, 2023, a boat capsized and killed more than 100 people on the Niger River in the Patigi District of Kwara State. The incident was reported to have happened at 3 a.m., leaving people unaware of the mishap until dawn, hours later.
Boat mishaps are frequent in Nigeria. In October 2022, Punch Newspapers published a report on similar incidents where a minimum of 701 people lost their lives in 53 boat incidents across Nigeria from January 2020 to October 2022.
Photo to illustrate boat capsize
The people involved were wedding guests
The incident occurred as the victims, comprising men, women, and children, were returning from a wedding in Egboti, Kwara State.
According to Punch, 61 people who died were from Ebu, 38 were from Gakpan, four were from Kpada, two were from Kuchalu, and one was from Sampi, respectively.
There’s a possibility that wedding guests use the boat to travel because it’s a cheaper means of transport in the state. Residents shared that after the fuel subsidy removal was announced, they’d mostly considered water a cheaper means of transportation.
However, navigating the Niger River by peddling a boat during the current rainy season in Nigeria is also risky. This is due to the rising water levels, particularly during windy storms that occur on the water.
So far, at least one hundred people have been rescued, but death toll continues to rise
Okasanmi Ajayi, the spokesperson for the Kwara State Police, says 100 people have been rescued. The search and rescue operation is ongoing. Ajayi has also shared with news platforms that the team might record more fatalities, consequently raising the overall death toll.
What’s the state government in Kwara doing about the incident?
Kwara State Governor Abdulrasaq Abdulrahman has expressed condolences for those who lost their lives due to the incidents and their families.
In a recent statement, the governor also conveyed his sincere sympathies to the affected communities as well as people from other states who are impacted.
Governor Abdulrasaq also assured that he would closely monitor the ongoing rescue operations in pursuit of potential survivors.
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On the evening of June 12, 2023, the talk on social media revolved around a single topic—the newly signed student loan bill by Tinubu.
The Bill was introduced in November 2022 by Femi Gbajabiamila, Nigeria’s current Chief of Staff, who was a member of the House of Representatives at the time. This new Bill seeks to provide interest-free loans to students in tertiary institutions with the aid of a National Education Bank.
President Tinubu signs student loan bill into law [Vanguard Newspapers]
While this bill is seen as a step forward regarding its potential benefits, it has faced criticism regarding its implementation. Many members of the public are concerned about how students will be able to repay these loans, given Nigeria’s high unemployment rate and widespread poverty.
At the Citizen, I cover issues affecting Nigerian students, and this Bill has greatly interested me. In January, we published an article that shed light on Tinubu’s long-standing support for and endorsement of the bill since 2015, including its drawbacks.
Here we are now, six months after that article was published. We’ll go into all the specifics of what the Bill entails. If you’re a student who still wishes to apply for a loan, this ABC information is for you. And if you are not a student, perhaps it’s time to consider taking another Jamb examination if you are interested in its benefits.
Who are these loans for?
Applicants who can access the loans must have the following:
Admission to a Nigerian educational institution (university or polytechnic)
Interest in taking the loan ONLY for tuition fees
House Income that’s less than ₦500,000
Two guarantors. These should be civil servants, lawyers or judicial officers who have been in service for more than 12 years
You won’t get these loans if you are/have:
Previously defaulted on loans
For the government, if you’re a chronic defaulter on loans given by previous organisations, you do not stand a chance of qualifying for the loan.
Wahala be like bicycle
Parents who are also loan defaulters
For the government, your parents’ sins are your sins too. If your parents also happen to be debtors on loans, either student loans or loans from other organisations, the applicant will be disqualified.
Guilty of exam malpractice and felonies
An aspiring applicant won’t be able to access the loans if a school board has found them guilty of exam fraud or felonies by any judicial court.
So much for second chances
How does the government plan to fund this loan?
Here’s the plan to fund the National Education Bank:
Interests arising from deposits in the Bank
Education bonds
Education endowment fund schemes
1% of all taxes, levies and duties from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Donations, gifts and grants
How does repayment of the loan work?
Every beneficiary is to commence repayment two years after completing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. Before then, students’ academic records (which contain the year of graduation, NYSC enrollment year, and employment) will be monitored.
If the applicant is employed by an organisation, there will be a 10% deduction from their salary into the Student Loan Account until repayment is complete.
Entrepreneurs would have to remit 10% of their profit to the Student Loan Account as the bank prescribes while submitting their corporation’s details.
The punishment for defaulters? Two years imprisonment or the option of a fine of ₦500,000.
Just imagine being behind bars for defaulting to pay back
With this knowledge, how do I apply?
Interested applicants are expected to submit:
A copy of the student admission letter
A letter written by the guarantors addressed to the chairman and governing board of the Education Bank recommending the student and accepting liability.
Two passport photographs from guarantors
Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) documents if the guarantor is self-employed
If interested, don’t snooze. You’ll only have 30 days after the admissions close for an academic year to submit your documents. After submission, you can expect your funds in no more than 30 days.
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It’s Democracy Day. Major operational institutions are closed. If you tune in to radio and TV stations in the country, everyone is talking about the significance of June 12. This is a day that has come to represent Nigeria’s democracy.
How did Democracy Day become such an important public holiday in Nigeria?
First, you must understand the rise and fall of the 2nd Republic as the catalyst for the demand for democratic governance in Nigeria. You also need to know the backstory of the annulled June 12, 1993 elections, and the journey of Moshood Kashimawo Olawale “MKO” Abiola, who became an emblematic figure in Nigeria’s democratic history.
Shehu Shagari, Buhari and the Fall of the 2nd Republic
To better understand the significance of the Nigerian clamour for democracy in 1993, we must rewind thirteen years to when Shehu Shagari, a civilian president, was in power.
His election into power led to the rise (and fall) of Nigeria’s 2nd Republic from 1979–1983.
Shagari’s election into power resulted from a military-to-democratic government transition model initiated by then Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo in 1979.
But with Shagari’s entry into power, Nigeria didn’t enter a season of political utopia but plunged into its existing problems.
Oil prices crashed, riots occurred in Northern Nigeria, ministers became more corrupt, and massive electoral malpractice and rigging occurred during the 1983 general elections.
This led to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari overthrowing the Shagari administration in a coup during the same year. However, Buhari’s government didn’t fare any better either.
Buhari was particularly unpopular with citizens for his Decrees No. 2 and 4. These gave the state security power to ban strikes and popular demonstrations and censor media outlets perceived as posing a threat to the government’s interests.
By 1985, it became clear to the political elite in the country that Buhari had no plans of ever giving back power to Nigerians. This resulted in the Ibrahim “IBB” Babangida-led coup in August 1985.
IBB, the military general with a desire for democracy
Nevertheless, he encountered similar economic challenges as his predecessor, Buhari, including the devaluation of the naira, which led to social unrest.
With the perception of being labelled as “just another military dictator” in Nigeria’s history, Babangida needed to achieve something remarkable that would leave a positive legacy in the eyes of Nigerians. You can consider it as him “doing better”.
For him, the solution was clear—to restore democratic governance.
To achieve this, he embarked on significant reforms. This included:
An establishment of dual-tier legislatures at both national and state levels
The appointment of civilians to govern the states
And the formation of two major national political parties: the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republic Convention (NRC).
With these structures in place, the only thing Nigerians needed to do was elect a new president as the final phase of the transition. This is where this story becomes more intriguing—so grab your popcorn, and let’s dive in.
The June 12, 1993, elections
The June 12 elections witnessed a head-to-head battle between SDP’s business mogul, MKO Abiola, and NRC’s Alhaji Bashir Tofa. The election was scheduled for Saturday, June 12, 1993.
This election was critical, as it would determine Nigeria’s first democratically elected president since 1979, marking the start of the 3rd Republic.
At the end of the election, MKO Abiola emerged as the winner with over eight million votes, winning in 19 states. His opponent, NRC candidate Tofa, received over six million votes and won in 10 states.
Out of the total votes cast, which exceeded 14 million, Abiola secured nearly 60 per cent. This made him the clear winner of the election. This election is widely regarded as the most free and fair in Nigeria’s history.
MKO emerged as a prominent figure and continues to hold significance. Hailing from the South-West region and having Babagana Kingibe, his running mate, from the North-East made them a preferred choice for most people during the elections. Interestingly, despite both candidates being Muslims, they had wide support.
The election was annulled, which led to MKO—considered as Africa’s most successful businessman—not becoming president.
On June 16, the government-run Radio Nigeria announced that NEC was suspending the official results announcement due to “developments and action pending in courts.” The announcement cited irregularities observed during the elections.
The announcement triggered widespread protests and civil unrest across Nigeria, leading to the resignation of Babangida. This was followed by Ernest Shonekan’s brief interim civilian government and, ultimately, the Gen. Sani Abacha military coup of 1993.
Abiola was placed in detention following the annulment. Under Abacha’s leadership, the military regime in power at the time accused him of treason. They had him arrested after he declared himself the winner of the June 12 elections.
Abiola died the day he was set to be released from detention, on July 7, 1998. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear. The claims of assassination as the cause of his death are also uncertain.
How Nigerians got to celebrate June 12 as Democracy Day
The commemoration of Democracy Day on June 12 is now in its 6th year. For many Nigerians, particularly those from the South-West states, today is marked as significant for the outcome of the election.
But for Buhari, June 12 is a way to nationally acknowledge the man who lost his life in the quest for democratic governance in Nigeria.
Undoubtedly, the 1993 general elections and MKO Abiola will forever be etched in Nigeria’s history as the pinnacle of its democratic revolution.
The Nigerian experience is physical, emotional, and sometimes international. No one knows it better than our features on #TheAbroadLife, a series where we detail and explore Nigerian experiences while living abroad.
Today’s #AbroadLife features a Nigerian software engineer working with Volvo in Sweden. During a vacation in Poland, he experienced harassment and was unceremoniously ejected from his hotel for simply asking for basic services. He shares his story with us and discusses why he may never return to Poland again.
What were your motivations for “Japa-ing” in the first place?
I was not necessarily looking at moving abroad at the beginning. I had a good-paying, remote job working from Nigeria. However, I experienced limitations and frustrations that made me consider the Japa route. Money in your pocket can be very annoying when you cannot get basic things at affordable rates, like electricity, internet and safety, to say the least. I also had this situation where the police extorted me. I consider that one of my last straws.
WOW! What happened?
So here’s the thing. In 2021, I had just moved to Lagos and stayed with a friend until I could find a place for myself in 2022. I wasn’t particular about the distance from town, as I only needed a quiet, big area. I finally got a place like that around Kola, at Alimosho.
When setting up the place, I called on the services of a carpenter to do wardrobes for me. I paid him 60-70% of the total bill in advance for the work he was to do, and he disappeared for two months. When I finally contacted him, he gave me stories. This was for something he was supposed to deliver in three weeks. I gave him another month, but he still didn’t show. After weeks of pushing and shoving, he gave me wardrobes that were not satisfactory, and I then asked for a refund.
Can you imagine that this man reported me to the police and told them many lies about me? The police then came to my place and told me that the District Police Officer wanted to see me for what had been filed as a “civil disagreement”.
When I got to the police station, I was approached multiple times by policemen speaking Yoruba, and each time I mentioned that I didn’t speak or understand Yoruba, they left me. I waited from morning until 10 p.m. when some of the police officers drove me away to a different area that I knew nothing about. They then forced me at gunpoint to transfer money to them. I managed to do it, but getting over what happened took me a while.
Luckily, a new job offer came (which is the job I have with Volvo now). They arranged my visa and all the other details. The only thing I did was do data “capturing” at the Swedish embassy.
Why did you choose Poland for your vacation?
I went there because I have people there. I have a friend doing a Master’s degree and a friend based in Poland with his wife and kids. So my rationale was, “Since you have people there, why don’t you make this the first out-of-country visit?” I mean, I could have gone to Stockholm or anywhere in Sweden. But I needed the out-of-country experience and to see my long-time friends.
Nice! How did the vacation go?
My friend in Poland told me that if I pay the hotel bills physically, it’s usually cheaper than paying online. So, on a Saturday, I sent the money to her, and she helped me book a hotel in Gdynia. I then booked my round trip and went to the airport, but my flight was delayed for an hour. We then landed at around 12:15 a.m. or thereabouts on Sunday morning. I took a Bolt cab to the hotel. I met my friend, who showed me my room and key (no one was at the reception desk), and she later left with the Bolt driver since her place was quite a distance from the hotel.
Later that morning, I got my friend to call a taxi to church (since I didn’t speak Polish). I met more faces at the church, including my nursery school classmate, whom I hadn’t met for several years. I then returned to the hotel and took a walk in the evening.
I’d say everything remained calm until Tuesday morning. Being someone strict on hygiene, I couldn’t use the two towels that hadn’t been changed since my arrival. I also wondered why no cleaner had been in my room since my arrival. And most importantly, I now needed hot water. I couldn’t do without it.
With these questions in mind, I went downstairs to look for someone, and lo and behold, there was a man at the reception desk this time. Using Google Translate (as I couldn’t understand Polish), I politely asked for hot water, which they said would be ready in ten minutes. I also asked for the towels to be changed and cleaned, and the man scoffed at me. He said that I shouldn’t expect much, as the hotel wasn’t “5-star”, which was absurd to me…
Wait what?
Yes o. I would need to pay extra for those basic services to be rendered.
I was appalled, but even then, I returned to my room and told my friend, who had booked it for me, what had happened.
Not long after, two ladies flung the door of my room open and started to push me back towards the reception. Through Google Translate, I realised they thought the room I had paid for was for two people instead of one.
I tried to explain that she was only my friend who helped me book, but all to no avail. They thought I was lying. It even reached the point where I dared them to look through CCTV footage to show that I was the only person and call the police, but they weren’t convinced. I should also say that while looking at the CCTV footage, I peeked at the register, and I also happened to be the only black man in the hotel, or at least in that wing anyway. They “helped me” pack my luggage and bring it downstairs, insulting me and calling me words like “cheating black nigger”. I had to look then for another hotel in another town in Poland to spend the rest of my visit.
Only after I could settle in did I realise that my watch and some money were missing, and these items were in my box before the incident.
So sorry about this. I hope this didn’t ruin your entire stay.
No, it didn’t. I still visited some landmarks in Poland but didn’t stay long after that. I left a day after the incident.
Would you ever go back to Poland?
No, and I’ll never ask someone to book a hotel for me. Not because I don’t want them to, but because I don’t want them in the crossfire when I take legal action. The people of Poland need to fix up one thing—their hospitality.
On June 5, 2023, Nigerian Army troops discovered and rescued 21 pregnant women, a woman, two babies, a generator, and a stretcher with food items. They acted on an anonymous tipoff and raided a building in Umunkpei Nvosi, Abia State, to make this happen.
The survivors were held hostage in a building used for child trafficking. These types of buildings are commonly referred to as “baby factories.” Sadly, this is not the first time Nigerians have heard troubling realities like this happening nationwide.
Women rescued from the baby factory in Abia State [Authority Newspaper]
Items recovered during a baby factory raid in Abia State [Punch Newspapers]
Unfortunately, with this latest raid, the troops couldn’t arrest the actual leader of the illicit operations. Only Katherine Onyechi Ngwama, a chef working at the facility, was arrested. There has been no comment on how Katherine started working there or how much she knows about operations at the baby factory.
What’s next for the women and children?
The women and children have been admitted for medical treatments and assessments at a private health institution affiliated with the Catholic Church in Abia state.
Survivors in hospital bed [PUNCH Newspapers]
One of the pregnant women has delivered a baby at the hospital, and two more are expecting to deliver their babies in the coming weeks. Christian Anokwuru, the hospital’s provost, revealed this to the press.
On June 6, Priscilla Otti, the wife of the new governor of Abia State, visited the women. She assured them of post-natal care and support as they navigate their recovery. Faith-based organisations will partner with the state to make this happen.
Abia First Lady in picture with one of the children [Business Hallmark]
Nigeria has a baby factory crisis. One that demands immediate and widespread attention across all states. The alarming prevalence of these illicit operations calls for more attention to tackle this grave issue.
Do you know it is the third most common crime in Nigeria?
In February 2023, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) reported 921 child victims of trafficking rescued in Nigeria. And according to a 2006 UNESCO report, child trafficking is Nigeria’s third most common crime after drug trafficking and economic fraud.
It is worthy of note that child trafficking is just one of the many atrocities that occur within baby factories. These facilities are also notorious for facilitating organ trafficking. Incidents of ritual killings tend to occur in such buildings.
Do you have ideas on how we can serve you better? Tell us now!
The Act criminalises child trafficking operations, with a sentence of seven years and a fine of nothing less than one million naira for offenders.
Citizens also have a role to play. We must report more cases of child trafficking to the necessary authorities. Government and private organisations must develop more apps and platforms like NAPTIP’s iReport app that help people report related cases. You can also support civil societies like the Devatop Centre for Africa Development, which fights against human trafficking through the training and education of volunteers.
If you’ve been religiously following the “Northern Nigeria Invasion” series, I have a bottle of wine to congratulate you. This is where we draw the curtain on it. However, key highlights from the two events we’ve covered are Lord Lugard’s British invasion of Northern Nigeria and the capture of the Bida and Yola Emirates.
Catch up:
The British Empire declared Northern Nigeria a protectorate in 1900 but had no territorial control. They needed to gain power over the region due to the fear of European rivals outsmarting them and to gain the local leaders’ respect.
To do this, they called upon Frederick Dealtry Lugard, who grew from a British soldier to High Commissioner for Northern Nigeria in 1900.
After the official proclamation, he sent a memo to the Sarkin Muslmi, or King of the Sokoto Caliphate, to which there was no reply. This led to a rampage from Lugard to depose various emirates in the Caliphate.
Amongst the lands he captured were the emirates of Bida and Yola. Bida fell due to a rebellion and their eventual alliance with the Royal Niger Company (RNC). Yola was captured due to the defiance of the Lamido, Zubaryu, who escaped capture from the British. The Lala tribe from Bornu State later killed him.
For today, take your straws to sip the last drink and dive deep into what ultimately ended the Sokoto Caliphate—the fall of the Kano and Sokoto emirates.
The Fall of Kano – January 1903
A view of a part of Kano City (Inside the Wall) [New York Public Library]
We must backtrack to Lugard’s feud with Sarkin Musulmi in 1900 to understand how Kano fell. His revenge mission against the launch started because the Sarki refused to respond to Britain’s proclamation of the North as a protectorate.
Lugard as colonial administrator, Northern Nigeria [Britannica]
In 1902, Lugard finally received his long-awaited reply from the Sarki, but it wasn’t what he expected. Originally written in Arabic, the message says:
“From us to you. I do not consent that anyone from you should ever dwell with us.No agreement can ever be made with you. I will have nothing ever to do with you….This is with salutations.”
However, scholars believe the message was sent to Lugard’s second in command, Commissioner Wallace, instead of him.
How did Lugard launch the war?
You must know that for Lugard to start a war, he needed the support of Britain’s Colonial Office in London, and those folks were not ready to engage in more battles without a reasonable cause. Lugard, knowing this, eventually got his chance when a British resident at Keffi, Kano, Captain Moloney, was killed under “mysterious circumstances.”
And who better to blame for the murder than the warrior chief of Keffi, Dan Yamusa? It didn’t help that Yamusa was already openly defiant of Britain’s rule in the North.
The Sarki’s letter and Moloney’s murder were enough for Lugard to launch a war. And even though there was a window for negotiations with the new Sarkin Muhammadu Attahiru after the death of Abdurrahman, Lugard wasn’t having it.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Religious Head of Hausaland [Getty Images]
He wanted to assert authority and was bent on using Kano to prove his point.
The Battle of Kano
To make his reasons for war convincing to the Colonial Office, Lugard claimed that the emir of Kano, Aliyu, was marching with warriors to attack the West African Frontier (WAF).
But in reality, the Emir was on the march—but only to pay homage to the new Sarki at Sokoto, hundreds of miles away. And even though the British didn’t buy Lugard’s excuse for a war, that wouldn’t deter him from his goal of total Northern Nigeria dominance.
However, Lugard still had a major problem—the walls of Kano. These walls were specially designed for defence, with a 40 feet thick base and 30 to 50 feet high. The city also had ditches and cultivated farmland inside its walls, which the people could use to feed themselves in cases of siege.
The Ancient Walls of Kano [Naija Biography]
Surprisingly, Lugard’s captain, Colonel Morland, found little to no resistance from the Kano army due to the Emir’s absence. They blew a hole in the wall, stormed the city, stormed the Emir’s palace, and hoisted the Union Jack (the de facto national flag of the UK of Great Britain) on top of the city walls.
The Fall of Kano [Kano Chronicle/Twitter]
No British soldier was killed, and only 14 of them were wounded. Lugard then appointed the Emir’s younger brother as the new emir.
Up next on Lugard’s hit list was Sokoto
The Conquest of Sokoto Caliphate – March 1903
In February 1903, Colonel Morland wrote a letter to Sarkin Attahiru informing him of the fall of Kano and their anticipated attack on Sokoto.
“Sir Thomas Morland” [The Great War by Ed H.W. Wilson]
Attahiru replied by informing Morland that he would consult with his advisers and get back to him, but they could never conclude between negotiation, battle, or outward defeat. With their inaction, Morland’s army proceeded to march into Sokoto.
The War Against Sokoto Caliphate [LitCAF]
“We chase and kill until there are no living men”
On March 14, 1903, Britain fought with the Sokoto Caliphate outside the city walls. Fighting without the safety of their walls was a grave mistake for the Sokoto army, as they were no match for the British artillery and machine guns.
However, the Sokoto army did not give up but stayed valiant until the end. They took the green flag of the Sarki into battle, and every time the flag bearer was shot, another would take his place—until all the flagbearers were dead. After the battle, the British infantry chased down what was left of the survivors and killed them. They also hacked legs and arms off corpses to take items of value. In a British soldier’s words:
“We chase and kill till the area is clear of living men — and we tire of blood and bullets.”
Comparatively, the casualties on the side of the British were remarkably small. Only two of their forces were killed—a carrier and a soldier.
The Aftermath
Sarkin Attahiru survived the battle and fled. Lugard asked Sokoto officials to nominate a new Sarki, and they eventually chose a ruler named Attahiru. In a March 21, 1903, proclamation, Lugard told the people that even though they could practise their religion, all independent Fulani rule had ended. The British system of government was here to stay.
What happened to Attahiru?
He was still on the run alongside Kano’s former Emir, Aliyu. While in exile, Attahiru was able to garner supporters from surrounding villages. This was due to the anger of the indigenes towards the British for deposing the head of their religion.
The British saw Attahiru’s fame and survival as a threat, and despite trying to capture the former Sarki six times at Burmi in the Borno Empire, all their efforts were in vain. In one of the battles, the British army got hit with poisoned arrows, which gravely injured two soldiers and six horses. To ease the two soldiers’ deaths, their colleagues shot them.
25-year-old Benson Ikiowori would never have anticipated the soldier’s bullet that ended his life on June 1, 2023.
Bayelsa Community Moves to Shut Down Conoil Facility After Soldiers Killed Peaceful Protester [Daily Report Nigeria]
His “crime,” like that of other young people in the Sangana Community of Bayelsa State, was protesting at the Consolidated Oil and Gas Limited-run Oil Mining Lease 59 oil mine. CONOIL is a well-known Nigerian company.
This protest led to Benson’s death, the injuries of several other youth indigenes, and the reported disappearance of two youths. Many residents claim that security personnel from the army responsible for protecting the vicinity are responsible for these sad occurrences.
But what was the protest for?
The delayed implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CONOIL and the Sangana community caused the protest.
The failure of the oil company to execute the MoU after 25 years of operations in the area has amounted to an estimate of N420 million worth of projects being owed to the Sangana Community.
As per the Community Development Chairman (CDC) of Sangana, Comrade Reuben Preboye, whose comments featured in various national publications, “The MoU is for three years and is subject to renewal. The 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022 MoUs have not been implemented and have accumulated over N300 million to N420 million worth of projects.”
Preboye also mentioned that CONOIL has refused to meet quarterly with the youths this year. They have also refused to ensure medical treatment for victims of a major gas leak from their operations in June 2022.
CONOIL suspected in pollution of Sangana [Environmental Rights Action]
The CONOIL-Sangana Fallout
Benson’s death and CONOIL’s alleged continued negligence have only led to more protests in the region.
On June 3, with protesters holding placards such as “Why kill an innocent youth?” and “25 years of operation in Sangana, nothing to show for it”, tensions are high for the petroleum company to listen to their demands.
Youths protesting Benson Ikiowori’s death in Sangana, Bayelsa [Sahara Reporters]
With these protests, CONOIL has two options. One, address the lingering issues and compensate victims; and two, stop operations and evacuate the area.
But despite the mounting pressure, CONOIL has not yet addressed the issue at hand. Major Adenegan Ojo, the spokesperson for Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), did not respond to our attempts to obtain comments. It is believed that OPDS could have shed light on the motivations behind the violent actions carried out by army security operatives.
Unfortunately, the Sangana Community is one of many oil communities in the South-South region that have suffered from pollution. This is due to oil giant operations. This also comes with records of tensions brewing high this year.
Now, which way forward?
In Nigeria’s history, oil companies, especially those with foreign affiliations, are known for exploiting oil-rich communities’ resources. In doing this, they often do not keep their end of the bargain. So much is expected of CONOIL given its “home value,” with Mike Adenuga being the owner.
We hope the government will do its best to ensure peacekeeping, that institutions that hold all petroleum organisations accountable will do their due diligence, and that citizens’ needs are a priority. We need to see stiffer penalties on oil companies that fail to abide by laws and hold themselves accountable.
The Nigerian experience is physical, emotional, and sometimes international. No one knows it better than our features on #TheAbroadLife, a series where we detail and explore Nigerian experiences while living abroad.
What does it mean to get a CGPA of 7.0 in your undergraduate degree in Nigeria only to struggle academically at one of the world’s top universities in post-grad? With two weeks to graduation, this week’s #AbroadLife subject, narrates how she eventually attained a “perfect” CGPA studying for her master’s in Computer Science at Stanford University, California, USA.
Disclaimer: This interview is being published based on anonymity (without name) to protect the confidentiality and privacy of the interviewee.
How and where did you get a 7.0?
So I schooled at the University of Ibadan (UI), and from the beginning until 2017, they’ve been using a 7.0-grade point average (GPA). They only changed it to 5.0 recently to meet up with international standards.
As to the “how”, my goal when I entered university was to get a first-class degree; I wasn’t targeting a 7.0 in the first place. In the first semester of the 100 level, I was so scared of falling behind that I was always eager to study. After the first semester, I finished with a 7.0. I was so excited, but it wasn’t groundbreaking for freshers to finish with a perfect GPA in the first semester. It was quite common. I wouldn’t say it was easy, but it was attainable.
At the end of my first year, my CGPA was still 7.0, and I began considering the possibility of maintaining that grade to the very end. I wasn’t too optimistic because I knew the courses would get harder as I advanced, but it motivated me to do my best. In my class, two other people also had the same GPA as me, which made me subconsciously accountable to someone.
My parents were people who could provide what I needed, and I didn’t have to find money to care for my siblings or parents. I was just a regular college student. I wasn’t a social butterfly.
Interesting. What was your inspiration for travelling abroad?
I wouldn’t say that I was always dreaming of going to Stanford. Once I graduated from UI in 2019, my major goal was to make enough money. I wanted to make money so bad.
After making a 7.0 CGPA, news about my achievement quickly travelled. Someone contacted me from Canada and persuaded me to apply for graduate school or a doctorate. But I wasn’t feeling it. I wanted to work, and I wanted to make money.
If not for my Aunty, who made a compelling case on how my skills wouldn’t be fully appreciated without passing through graduate school, I may have never made a move.
By then, I had already had a full-time job in Nigeria as a product manager in a tech firm immediately after school. I started to research what it takes to get admitted.
Tell us more about the process.
I then discovered that I needed to write the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), reach out to professors, get recommendation letters etc.
The process seemed quite challenging at first, but I found people who were also on the same journey as me, and we just motivated each other by solving past questions etc. Sometimes I returned from work late at night and started studying. I was targeting 320 as my GRE score, as it would ensure my entry into an Ivy League school.
Sometime in October 2019, I got 318 as my GRE score, two marks shy of my original target, which wasn’t bad for me. I then got my letters of recommendation from my professors at school, wrote my statement of purpose, and submitted most of my applications by December 15.
I got admission and full funding at Stanford University by April 15, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, but I couldn’t resume school until the US Embassy reopened for my interview in November 2020. The choice of attending courses virtually wasn’t there because I got admission as a graduate teaching assistant. This required me to be physically present in the U.S. Hence the long wait.
Wow, sorry about that. How did the interview go?
Thank you, and it went well. That interview was seamless. I know how often people get rejected trying to get US visas, but thankfully that wasn’t the case for me. The interviewer didn’t stress me out at all. I just gave him my I-20 (a document you receive as proof of admission).
When he saw that I was going to Stanford, he just returned my documents and told me to go, that the F-1 visa (student visa) would be ready in about two weeks. The visa also had a two-year validity clause.
Why do you think the process was so easy?
I think it’s because I was going to an Ivy League school, and it was even Computer Science I studied and the full funding I received. I was shocked and happy because I had prepared so hard, and they never asked the questions I had prepared for. By December 2020, I travelled to the US.
What were your first experiences in America like?
As mentioned, I left Nigeria for California in December because I was so excited to leave and wanted to have at least 3 weeks to settle and prepare for school. I travelled with a friend because we would attend the same school and be placed in the same apartment.
The first thing that shocked me was the seriousness of foreigners regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. By June 2020, Nigerians were beginning to get much more lenient with precautionary measures such as face masks, and I began to get used to pulling down my face mask a lot.
However, on my Turkish Airline flight, I needed something from my friend, who was some seats away from me. I decided to stand up and walk towards him without my face mask. Suddenly, one of the passengers shouted at me to return to my seat because I was not wearing a face mask. It was so embarrassing, and I did not get the item from my friend again. I felt like a “bush” or uneducated girl. It then dawned on me that the pandemic was real here, and this wasn’t Nigeria, where precautionary measures weren’t taken seriously.
Also, people tended to cross to the other side of the road whenever I walked by, and I didn’t understand why. I wasn’t a monster, was I? I believed (and still believe) that I was a petite and pretty lady. Someone then explained that they were either trying not to contact the virus or get too close to people because of the COVID season. It was only then that I understood their actions.
Another thing that happened in my first week was falling sick –
Wow, how did this happen?
I didn’t like the vegan meal given on the plane, and even at the stop in Istanbul, I didn’t like much of the $15 pasta I bought because it was so bland. Coupled with the fact that it was a 14-hour flight, I got ill from the stress of travelling.
Some Nigerians had to take me to the hospital. I asked the nurse for water in the emergency room, and she didn’t understand. Only when I rolled the “t” in “water” did she finally understand what I requested and give me water. The doctor later discovered that I had malaria, but since it’s not a prevalent disease in the US, they didn’t have the test kits and equipment to treat me. They also had to take my blood sample from California to Atlanta before they could figure out if it was malaria.
I was also in the hospital for three days; it was the best time ever. I ate free food, received free Wi-Fi, paid my bills with insurance, and spent my days watching Bridgerton. It was an interesting time. The weather was cold but not too cold, which is one of the advantages of residing in California.
Nice! Could you please describe your experience as a master/teaching assistant?
Everything was virtual at first because of the pandemic. I did have to teach courses as a teaching assistant and then get paid a stipend. I remember the first class I taught on web application development.
There was an idea of the course but didn’t know what to expect because I had never taken the class before. I remember introducing myself and telling them to ask me questions, but after the class, I thought, “How can I tell them to ask me questions when I just started this?”
My teaching assistant experience started with me just “winging it,” more like a “fake it till you make it” sort of thing. I remember taking three artificial intelligence (AI) classes during my first office hours. After seeing these classes’ syllabi and weekly assignments and discussing them with a friend, he advised me to drop one class. As a graduate teaching assistant, you don’t just teach; you also have to attend the classes and do the assignment before handing it out to the students so that you can help them with whatever problems they encounter.
The magnitude of the content for my first class was enormous. I can remember us covering in two hours almost half of the entire semester syllabus of that same course in Nigeria.
Wow, how did you manage to juggle all those classes with your coursework?
At the end of the day, I dropped all those 3 big AI classes because I really couldn’t do them. I then stuck with the web application development class because I felt it would be a good refresher, and then I picked a lighter class regarding the coursework. This was so that I could cope with my coursework. Three of my new friends knew the courses, so I could rely on them for help and guidance. Not knowing these courses, I couldn’t afford to do office hours as a teaching assistant. It took more than 20 hours daily to focus and grade papers as a teaching assistant, talking less about being a master’s student.
Part of what helped me was belonging to a community of students to rely on if I needed any help with my own courses. My school also offers a quarterly or 10-week system to do assessments, teach, and wrap up with exams. This made the pace of work fast. You could always expect the course assignments to take 10-20 hours alone. Coupled with my workload as a teaching assistant, I was always stressed and tired, and I had nightmares in my first quarter.
I could wake up as early as 3 a.m. because I’d remember I had something to do that wasn’t even close to completion. I was sleeping for only 3-4 hours daily. My teaching was non-negotiable, and I couldn’t look like a fool. I was also to be reviewed at the end of the quarter, with students rating me, and I didn’t want a bad review because it could attract penalties.
Wow, THAT hard?
Yes. People say that if you survive in a Nigerian university, you will thrive in foreign universities. This is a lie because it is harder because of the weekly assignments; you’re either teaching or doing research, unlike in Nigeria, where you just need to show up.
I can remember a social computing assessment that I took for my coursework. I didn’t finish because I was a slow typist and wasn’t a fast thinker, and it was the same in many of my courses. Along the way, I asked for accommodation, which helped me gain three extra days for submitting assignments and 1.5x the time for assessments. If the standard time for an assessment was 3 hours, they could give 4 hours and 30 minutes due to the accommodation or special consideration I signed up for. I always felt below average regarding my set because this experience differed from the Nigerian educational experience.
I also learned to ask questions, but I noticed that they never gave straightforward answers. They gave hints and pointers, but never the answers. There was a lot of mental shift and tons of academic realisations in a year and a half. But I wouldn’t trade these experiences for anything.
What was your social life like at Stanford?
So I had my course for two years. The first part of the year was still about the COVID scare, and no one had much social interaction. The campus was quiet, and there wasn’t much activity. People still met in groups, but they wore face masks. Every Nigerian I met seemed willing to accommodate a new Nigerian, so that was chill.
It was a bit tricky mingling with other nationalities, but one way I did this was through assignments. I was the only African in my cohort, with the rest being African-American, Asian, or Indian. Only in September 2021 did things start to open up with physical classes. My attempts at socialisation came in the 2nd quarter because I knew the coursework now and how to go around things. I was also able to take harder courses.
We had departmental hangouts from time to time, and it was always just a bowl of food on a table (usually pizza), with people talking about research and no music. It was always boring, but at the same time, I could appreciate Americans and their zeal for research and hard work. They are so passionate about what they do and very cooperative.
There’s a memory that stands out for me. It was this Black, African-American event, and there was no music, which was very weird. Then, whenever I introduced myself, they’d almost always ask, “Where are you from?”
I wondered if my Nigerian accent was so obvious and if it was that easy to spot that I wasn’t part of them. Because of this, I felt more at ease being at a departmental event than one organised by black students. The cultural difference creates subtle tension, making you feel out of place.
What were the costs and quality of living like at Stanford?
Firstly, I’d say that healthcare is very expensive. Paying your bills would be extremely difficult if you didn’t have medical insurance.
I can remember a time when I attempted to do long-distance running and had tummy aches. My roommate felt I was in bad shape and called 911 (the emergency hotline). The roommate also confirmed that I wouldn’t pay out of pocket before I went to the hospital. The ambulance that the insurance company paid for amounted to $1,200 (N553,500), and the medical bill was $2,000 (N922,500), making a total of $3,200 (N1,476,000) for an ailment that I knew wasn’t serious and would have gone away in a couple of hours. If you don’t have medical insurance here, you can go bankrupt. Thankfully, I only fell ill once.
The cost of living in California is extremely expensive. Therefore, the average salary of a worker here is much higher than in the rest of the country. This also affected my stipend, and I receive $1800 as disposable income (after taxes and other charges have been deducted). This helps me pay rent on my housing, which costs $1,000 monthly, the cheapest I could find. What I have as a balance is usually enough for me. I can afford to send money home to my parents or upgrade my iPhone. You’re not rich, but you’re not broke, either.
What are the best parts and challenges of living at Stanford?
The best part was being part of an environment that motivates you to do great work. If you enter the campus, you’d feel like its heaven, with the infrastructure, alumni network, state-of-the-art equipment, etc. They’re also some of the world’s brightest people from all over the world, which makes learning so diverse. I also like that I can support my family without being affected negatively. $100 is like N73k here, and it won’t shake me here. However, it’s a significant amount to the average family or person in Nigeria. Every family should have one person abroad.
As to the challenges, adapting to a new environment with no family and friends can get lonely. There is also the pressure of moving to a new environment and being burdened with the expectation of succeeding immediately.
People here also tend not to be hospitable and mind their business too much, unlike in Nigeria. Unlike Nigeria, where I can randomly call a friend and visit that day, you always have to schedule visits here. You also have to be very intentional about cultivating friendships here, unlike in Nigeria, where you don’t have to stress how to make friends.
How are your grades now that you’re graduating?
Well, it’s not a 4.0, lol, but at least it’s definitely above the 3-point mark. I wasn’t crazy about getting the perfect grade, but I needed a good enough grade to maintain my teacher assistantship. Also, no one cares about CGPA here. Your skills and your GitHub account are what matter. And schooling at an Ivy League college already shows that you are smart, and that’s an endorsement of you.
What’s your next plan after graduation?
I plan to start working right away. I have a job waiting for me in a few months, but until then, I’d like to gain some extra cash with part-time tech gigs. I’m not looking forward to getting a PhD, though. This master’s degree is enough.
The 2021 murder of an Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) student in a hotel and the recent death sentence of a prince who is a hotelier sets the stage for today’s story.
This incident ignited a seething fury among Nigerians to talk about ritual murder, death sentences and the many grievances associated with Nigeria’s monarchy.
He owns a University He owns a palatial hotel.
He was a top contender for the Ooni of Ife kingship Yet he is deep into ritual killins.
It was a murder too many, as he snuff'd out lives of unsuspecting customers without being caught.
To understand this story better, let’s get to know exactly who the prince is.
Who is Abdulrahmon Adedoyin?
Rahmon Adedoyin [City Voice Newspaper]
Dr Rahmon Adegoke Adedoyin of the Agbedegbede/Oshinkola Akui Ruling House, was born into privilege as a prince from Ile-Ife, Osun State. His lineage carries historical significance and is part of the traditional monarchy of the region.
Adedoyin founded Oduduwa University in the same city and was a candidate for the Ooni of Ife throne after the late Oba Sijuade. He claimed the late king nominated him as his successor in August 2015. However, another prince, Adeyeye Ogunwunsi, became Ooni a few months later, in December 2015.
Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwunsi/[@oniadimulaife]
Adedoyin is prominent in the hospitality business in the state and owns Hilton Hotels and Resorts. This served as a lodging spot for residents of Ile-Ife and happened to be the last place where OAU Masters student, Timothy Adegoke, would ever be seen.
The disappearance and death of Timothy Adegoke
35-year-old Adegoke was set to undergo his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) examinations at OAU on November 6 and 7, 2021. He decided to use the hotel because it was close to the venue of his exam. He checked in at the Hilton Hotel the day before, November 5.
The first person to notice his disappearance was his wife. She called him the following day and noticed that his phone was consistently ringing without him picking up the call. She then contacted his parents. They sent delegates to OAU, only to discover that Adegoke was not present to write his exams.
Through the help of an abandoned receipt (which Adegoke’s wife discovered at home) and the Osun State police command, six people were arrested. This includes an Islamic Cleric (who had Adegoke’s phone), hotel staff, and Adedoyin himself.
Further police investigations helped find Adegoke’s remains in a shallow grave at Ede Road, Osun State. This helped Adegoke’s family kickstart legal action against the prince.
Hilton Hotel, the place where Timothy Adegoke was last seen [Orbitz]
The death sentence, other parts of the verdict
After a year of legal proceedings, the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo, dismissed Adedoyin’s case of “not being present at the hotel at the time of Adegoke’s murder”. The Chief Judge pronounced Adedoyin and two of his staff guilty of murder, with the trio facing death by hanging.
Part of the nails that eventually crucified Adedoyin was his refusal to enter the court’s witness box to prove himself innocent and Adedoyin’s Hilux van, which had murder weapons.
Asides from the death sentence, the judge added that the Hilux Van and hotel would become state property. Timothy’s children are to be educated to the university level at a cost to the three offenders.
But how does the death sentence work?
The death sentence penalty isn’t as straightforward as most people would think.
To provide nuance and better understand the case, Citizen spoke with a defence lawyer for two hotel staff. One was freed, and the other was convicted. Rowland Otaru first explained how the “death penalty” truly works.
According to Otaru, a senior advocate of Nigeria, death sentences take a while. “The convicted offender usually has up to one month to appeal his case before execution. This also gives enough time for the defence team to discover more evidence,” he said.
What’s next?
From all indications from the court’s verdict, Adedoyin’s story isn’t over yet.
We expect to see Adesola Adedeji, the hotel receptionist and hotel manager, and Roheem (who happens to be Adedoyin’s son) come into the mix. There are expectations that their suspected involvement in Adegoke’s murder will be tested.
Roheem Adedoyin [Akede Oyo]
We also look forward to round two of the case. Otaru enthusiastically told us that the defence team would not “be going down without a fight.” They’d head to the Court of Appeal to plead Adedoyin’s case.
Over a phone conversation, Otaru shared, “I personally feel that he judged too quickly. Also, the media hype and public outcry influenced the judge. His [Adegoke’s] organs were intact, and only circumstantial evidence was used for this judgement. We’ll make our way to the Court of Appeal next month. We will not go down without a fight.”
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Last week, we discussed how one spark of defiance from a Northern Sarkin (or king) ignited a full-blown war between Northern Nigeria and the British Empire in 1900.
The Battle of Kano [Wikiwand]
If you didn’t read this piece, let’s break it down with a quick refresher:
The Recap
The British Empire declared Northern Nigeria a protectorate in 1900 but had no territorial control. They needed to gain power over the region due to the fear of European rivals outsmarting them and to gain the local leaders’ fear respect.
To do this, they called upon Frederick Dealtry Lugard, who grew from a British soldier to High Commissioner for Northern Nigeria in 1900.
After the official proclamation, he sent a memo to the Sarkin Muslmi, or King of the Sokoto Caliphate, to which there was no reply. This led to a rampage from Lugard to depose various emirates in the Caliphate.
But today, we look at two kingdoms — Bida and Yola emirates.
The 1897 Fall of Bida Empire
Pre-colonial Bida: A Greedy and Bloodthirsty Government
Before the end of Bida in 1901, the emirate was the most populous out of five emirates (Agaie, Lapai, Lafiagi and Shonga) under the supervision of a Gwandu. Its regions stretched from present-day Niger State in Nupeland to Akoko in Ondo State.
Procession of Etsu chiefs with bodyguards [Nupe Base]
They had the best tax and tributes collection record and traded–mostly slaves, firearms and ammunition–heavily with British and other European merchants in the early 19th century, which helped them raid villages and take other territories. This made them highly unpopular in the region, with many rebellions. Most notable is the Kyadya Rebellion of 1881-82.
Kyadya rebellion of 1881 [Don Steve Blog]
The Emir of Bida also replaced mini-state systems with a centralised system of government (much like Nigeria’s democracy today), which helped them to stay in control of all taxes and tributes.
The Obaro Chieftaincy of Owe was upgraded to the paramount chief of all communities in North-East Yorubaland, which allowed him to implement Bida policies and collect tributes for delivery to Bida, which non-Owe and even Owe clans disliked.
In 1895, the Bida terror reached an all-time high when the Emir decided not only to request money but now tributes in the form of young girls and boys to the Bida Empire. The Bida regions protested but to no avail.
With dissatisfaction amongst the tribes, Lugard’s advent in 1900 allowed them to express their concerns.
How an unexpected alliance led to the fall of Bida
Remember Bida’s trade with British merchants? This partnership is what eventually led to its downfall.
By 1897, Bida traded with the French and Germans. But by 1897, the British (through the Royal Niger Company (RNC) decided they wanted a monopoly, which the leaders at Bida found as over-ambitious. This led to the first war between Bida and the RNC in 1897, which the RNC didn’t win.
However, they helped one of Bida’s most resourceful regions gain independence – Kabba. Mutiny grew around the region, with subjects rallying behind a self-exiled Kyadya prince, Yahaya Marike, towards allying with the RNC to end Bida’s reign.
‘The Battle of Bida’ [Ndagi Abdullahi/RuokoTv/Facebook]
Under the Prince’s instructions, Kyadya inhabitants refused to ferry the Bida army across their territory in the River Niger area, forcing them to take a more difficult route which demoralised soldiers, leading to deaths and desertion. This weakened the Bida.
When this happened, Bida called out to the nearby Lapai and Agaie for aid, to no avail. Even the Yissahzi tribe that lived in the Bida township refused to give them additional troops.
With this cooperation, the Marike-led government, alongside the RNC, attacked Bida. By the time the RNC and Marike’s army had reached the walls, Bida didn’t even know that Yissahzi and Kyadya were not on their side.
The Red Walls of Bida [Nomad4Now]
Bida’s downfall pushed regional power to the Patigi tribe, which revived all traditional Nupe offices. Lugard would later take Bida from the RNC, but the empire was already buried..
The 1902 Fall of Yola Empire
“I’ll not be two-faced”
By the latter part of 1901, the British Army had deposed emirates: Bida, Ilorin, Kontagora, Lapai — and Yola was next on the hit list.
“A Hausa from Yola” c. 1902 [Wikipedia]
Adamawa aristocracy, debated their options: fall under British rule or resist them. This aristocracy comprised Lamido (King), Zubairu bin Adama on one side, Hamman Joda (the Qadi), Bobbo Ahmadu (the Lamido’s younger brother) and Yerima Iyabeno (the Lamido’s nephew) on the other.
In the end, Lamido-Zubairu’s team—arguing for resistance—won.
Their arguments had two principles:
They did not want Europeans for dividing their empire (the Germans had taken over sub-emirate Tibati and were moving towards Ngoundere and Bamnyo);
and strong respect for the Sokoto Caliphate and its vision.
Hans Dominik, Oscar Zimmerman, Curt von Pavel and other German officers rest for a photo after reaching Lake Chad. (May 2, 1902) [Wikipedia]
This is why, in his letter to Sultan Abdurrahman of Sokoto announcing the fall of Yola to the British months later, Lamido Zubairu pledged:
“I will not be two-faced, on your side and on the side of the Christians too. My allegiance is to you, to God and the Prophet, and after you to the Imam Mahdi. There is no surrender to the unbeliever even after the fall of the strongholds.”
The British troops arrive
The British deployed 22 European officers and NCOs and 365 mercenaries, 275-mm guns and 4 Maxim guns, led by Colonel T.N.L. Morland, for the occupation of Yola on September 2, 1901.
They travelled using steamboats on Lake Njuwa and were anchored near a baobab tree locally called Bokki Hampeto. Colonel Morland sent a Shuwa Arab resident of Yola to send a letter to the Lamido containing their terms. The messenger returned three minutes later with the message that Lamido Zubayru refused to receive the letter.
Upon receiving this message, Morland moved his troops closer to the town and then sent his messenger once again to the Lamido with the threat that if his letter were refused again, he would take steps to compel him to open it. Before the return of his message, people riding on horses came out of the town to block the British.
Zubaryu retaliates
The messenger emerges, yet again, failing to deliver the letter to Lamido Zubairu as he was sent back and told by Lamido to warn Morland to retreat. More horsemen streamed out of the town to confront Morland and his forces. Morland calculated that it would be to their advantage to allow the people of Yola to attack first in the open. He felt it was much better than fighting in the narrow streets of Yola. He waited for the first attack from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. “after much shouting and exhorting from their mallams”.
The First Attack
Despite the starting battle, Morland ordered his men to “reserve our fire till the leaders were within 200 yards” before he ordered the maxim guns to be fired. After this attack, Morland’s forces went on the offensive. They advanced through the town till they reached the Lamido’s palace and Friday mosque, which were heavily defended. An arrow wounded Morland himself, but they persevered and defeated their adversaries.
Morland lost two men with 37 wounded, while the Yola forces lost 50 with 150 wounded.
The Second Attack
The morning after, the British forces blew up the palace’s visitors’ chambers and other “important-looking buildings” in Yola. Morland also heard rumours that Lamido Zubayru fled to Gurin, forty miles east of Yola.
The Capture of Yola, Benue, Northern Nigeria on September 2 by the Western African Frontier Force [Caton Woodville]
The Pursuit of Zubaryu
Acting Commissioner Wallace, with Colonel Morland, pursued Lamido to Gurin by steamboat. Eight European officers, NCOs, 150 mercenaries, and 2 Maxim guns accompanied them.
After travelling on the river Benue, Faro and Heso for 26 hours, they arrived in Gurin only to be told that Emir was not there. They turned back towards Yola without any encounter.
However, they learned that Zubaryu was in Ribadu, fourteen miles behind them. Wallace turned back to Yola to appoint a new “Lamido” while Morland and his forces marched towards Ribadu only to find out Lamido Zubayru had also not been there. Morland spent the night in Ribadu.
On the morning of September 7, Colonel Morland shelled the town of Ribadu before returning to Yola.
What happened to Zubaryu?
The Lamido managed to escape capture for months. First of all, he hid in the “German parts” of Adamawa, including Adumri, Manoa and Madagali. He then revisited “British Adamawa” in October 1902 after taking refuge at Gudu for three months. The British caught him, but he escaped.
The Lala (a tribe from Bornu State) later killed him in 1902, before knowing his identity.
Check out this weekly time machine same time next week to read the final edition of this series, “The Fall of Kano.”
