7 Killed as Nigeria Rally Turns Violent
Nigerian police fired into a crowd of thousands Friday when a rally to demand Gen. Sani Abacha’s ouster turned into a violent rampage. Witnesses said seven people were killed.
Three bodies were lying in the streets of the southern city of Ibadan after the shooting, witnesses said. The shooting began after the crowd began setting cars, shops and houses ablaze.
Police said more than 5,000 people marched in Ibadan, chanting anti-Abacha slogans and calling for the release of imprisoned politician Moshood Abiola.
Abiola, the apparent victor in 1993 elections, was imprisoned after declaring himself president when Abacha canceled the polls.
Abacha seized power in 1993 and has repeatedly backed away from promises to hand power over to a civilian government.
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