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1993 Nigerian Airways hijack

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1993 aircraft hijacking

On Monday, October 25, 1993, a Nigerian Airways Airbus A310 flight from Lagos to Abuja was hijacked by 4 teenagers aged 16 and 18.

Background

Richard Ogunderu, Kabir Adenuga, Benneth Oluwadaisi and Kenny Rasaq-Lawal boarded the flight initially planned to fly from Lagos to Abuja containing top government officials including Rong Yiren, the vice president of China, and Nigerian government officials.

The hijackers had planned to divert the aircraft to Frankfurt, Germany. However, the plane needed to stopover for refueling in Niamey, Niger Republic. When the flight landed at the Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, the hijackers announced that the flight had been taken over by "Movement for the Advancement of Democracy in Nigeria".

The hijackers demanded that the Nigerian military-backed interim government resign and name Moshood Abiola as the president. The four hijackers said they would set the Airbus 310 on fire in 72 hours if this demand was not met.

After two hours of negotiations they freed 129 people, including Rong Yiren, from the plane and held back the crew and Nigerian government officials.

The four hijackers said they would set the Airbus 310 on fire in 72 hours unless Nigerian authorities agreed to their demands, which at first included the resignation of the military-backed government.

After four days, the gendarmes invaded the plane and arrested the hijackers. The rescue operation killed crew member Ethel Igwe, while Richard was also injured.

Aftermath

The hijackers spent 9 years, 4 months in Niger prison. Shortly after the hijack, Ernest Shonekan's interim government was replaced by General Sani Abacha's government .

Dramatization

  • In October 2024, the 1993 Nigerian Airways hijack was depicted in the Netflix film Hijack '93.

References

  1. ^ "'Our June 12 Plane hijack story'-Richard Ogunderu". Sahara Reporters. 2009-06-20. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  2. ^ "Hijacked Nigerian Airways Jet Stops in Niger, Most Passengers Re". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  3. OBIEJESI, Kingsley (2017-10-25). "FLASHBACK: How four teenagers hijacked a Nigeria Airways plane 'for MKO Abiola'". International Centre for Investigative Reporting. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  4. ^ "Foes of Nigeria Rulers Hijack Plane to Niger". The New York Times. Associated Press. 1993-10-26. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  5. "Hijackers of a Nigerian Jet Are Captured After 3 Days". The New York Times. Reuters. 1993-10-28. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  6. "Hello 20-10-2020? 1993 called, and it wants Richard Ogunderu back". Businessday NG. 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  7. Bada, Gbenga (October 26, 2024). "Hijack '93 debuts on Netflix". The Nation (Nigeria). Retrieved October 27, 2024.
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