Nigeria’s Capital Silently Protests Nullified Election

This loud, chaotic city of 6 million people was desolate and silent Thursday except for the whir of army helicopters and clomp of combat boots worn by edgy soldiers.

Nearly everyone in Lagos appeared to heed a national strike to protest the nullification of an election that was to return Nigeria to civilian rule after a decade of military dictatorship.

Nigeria’s second-biggest city, Ibadan, 80 miles north of Lagos, was also at a virtual standstill, residents said.

However, compliance appeared limited to the southwest corner of the nation, the stronghold of the apparent winner of the June 12 election, billionaire businessman Moshood K. O. Abiola.

Doubts about military ruler Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s promise to return the country to democracy have thrown Nigeria into its gravest political crisis in 23 years.

Troops were poured into Lagos to prevent a repeat of the ferocious rioting that reportedly killed more than 100 people during a similar strike last month.

Babangida, who has promised to restore civilian rule by Aug. 27, is now considering appointing a stop-gap government. Many expect only an extension of military control.