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Coup plotters ordered released

    ABIDJAN

    Nigeria’s current military regime today ordered the immediate release of 33 coup plotters, jailed for trying to overthrow the late General Sani Abacha in 1995 and 1997, news reports said. Chief of General Staff Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe was quoted as saying the decision was taken by the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC) “in the spirit of national reconciliation”.

    “A lot has happened in the country and can be likened to a candle burning itself out,” he said, according to the independent ‘Guardian’ daily. The 33 officers and civilians include former chief of general staff Lieutenant General Oladipo Diya, Major Generals Abdulkarim Adisa and Tajudeen Olanrewaju and journalist Niran Malaolu. According to the ‘Guardian’, Diya and his fellow 1997 coup plotters are now free men but lose their military ranking.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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