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The trials of alleged coup plotters involved in the plan to overthrow Abacha continues secretly in Nigeria with the arrest of Michael Ajasin, the leader of National Democratic Coalition and many human rights activists and editors of various newspapers. The London Observer revealed that many non-commissioned officers were executed in Abuja in connection with the plot. However, the army information department has denied this report.

Nigerian laws decree that only the government can own broadcast media properties. As it is, the government owns about 80% of all publications printed in the country. This being so, government officials require that journalists show some loyalty to the government by reporting only favorable stories and official press releases. The Nigerian Television Authority has commercialized newsreporting by requiring a fee of N45-60,000 for the coverage of any event. Publication owners for their part, censor their papers so that only stories favoring their political and personal interests are printed.

Shell Oil Co attempts to conduct normal operations in Nigeria before the end of 1997 as it takes a series of steps to reconcile with the activist groups in the region. In fact, the company has arranged talks and various initiatives with the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (Mesop) in order to settle the tension between them. Further, Shell Oil plans to launch a number of community development programs and environmental activities. The dispute has its origin in 1993 when the Ogonis sabotaged the Shell facilities after it blamed the company for the murder of nine activists.

Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi was fired from his post as director of the Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN), the country's largest newspaper group. Ogunbiyi succeeded in improving the paper in terms of substance, circulation and profits. However, his termination was announced by Information Minister Alex Akinyele following the publication of a front page story on Nobel prizewinner Wole Soyinka criticizing the voting system initiated by General Ibrahim Babangida. Akinyele was believed to be getting even with Ogunbiyi for the latter's refusal to fire deputy editor Ndaeyo Uko.

Nigerian police said 84 people held hostage by gunmen were freed in the northern state of Katsina. Police responding to a distress call engaged the assailants in a gunfight and they fled, Katsina Police spokesman Gambo Isah said in an emailed statement. [Extracted from the article]

A video apparently made by Boko Haram insurgents was published by a Nigerian news website, showing dozens of schoolboys kidnapped last week being held in a wooded area, and pleading with the authorities to negotiate their freedom and stop military action. The authenticity of the video, published by HumAngle, which covers insecurity in West and Central Africa, couldn't be immediately verified. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- An attack by Boko Haram Islamist insurgents on rice farmers in Nigeria's northeast left at least 110 of them dead, a United Nations official said. "I am outraged and horrified by the gruesome attack against civilians", Edward Kallon, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria said in an emailed statement. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Nigeria said Boko Haram Islamist insurgents attacked rice farmers in the country's northeast, leaving at least 43 of them dead. Insurgents ambushed farmers who had gone into rice fields in the Jere district of Borno state on Saturday to bring in their harvest, according to a Nigerian presidency statement on Twitter. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Nigeria said Boko Haram Islamist insurgents attacked rice farmers in the country's northeast, leaving at least 42 of them dead. Insurgents ambushed farmers who had gone into rice fields in the Jere district of Borno state on Saturday to bring in their harvest, according to a Nigerian presidency statement on Twitter. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Nigeria lifted a ban on flights to the West African country by Air France, KLM, Lufthansa and Qatar Airways Africa's most populous country of more 200 million people barred a number of airlines as it resumed international flights on Sept. 5 following a prolonged lockdown to curb spread of the coronavirus, saying it was in retaliation for similar restrictions. The government is also working to open three additional airports in the country to international flights "before the end of the year", Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika said Tuesday on Twitter. [Extracted from the article]

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari lost a second close confidant this year with the death of Ismai'la Isa Funtua. Buhari received news of Funtua's death with "deep sadness", Shehu said on the presidency's Twitter account. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- A statue of a 19th-century imperialist that stands in a memorial park on the slopes of Cape Town's iconic Table Mountain has been decapitated, one of a series of attacks that have been mounted across several countries on symbols of colonial-era rule. The University of Cape Town removed another statue of Rhodes from its main campus in 2015 after a series of student protests, while several other colonial and apartheid-era symbols were also taken down. [Extracted from the article]