“Ladies and gentlemen, This Plane Has Been Taken Over By The Movement for the Advancement of Democracy (MAD).”
On the morning of October 25, 1993, passengers aboard Nigeria Airways Flight WT470 were jolted by an announcement that would become one of the most shocking acts of civil disobedience in Nigeria’s history.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this plane has been taken over by the Movement for the Advancement of Democracy (MAD). Remain calm, we will not harm you. You will be told where the plane will land you.”
The voice belonged to Richard Ogunderu, a 19-year-old fresh secondary school graduate. Alongside Kabir Adenuga (aged 22), Kenny Rasaq-Lawal (aged 23), and Benneth Oluwadaisi (aged 24), they had just hijacked a domestic flight from Lagos to Abuja.
Their mission?
To draw the world’s attention to the annulment of Nigeria’s freest and fairest election, the June 12, 1993.
BACKGROUND
In the year 1993, Nigeria was at a historic crossroad. After nearly a decade of military rule under General Ibrahim Babangida who had banned, unbanned and re-banned political activities, a along-promised transition seemed finally within reach.
A glimmer of hope emerged with the announcement of a presidential election, the first since 1983.
He permitted a presidential elections to hold on June 12, 1993 which is still remembered today as the freest and fairest in Nigerian history. The presumed winner, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, a wealthy businessman and philanthropist, represented the will of the people.
Abiola, was on the verge of leading Nigeria into a new democratic dawn until Babangida annulled the results, citing vague “security threats” and irregularities.
Nigerians erupt in protests. Cities burned with anger and rage. All Labour unions downed their tools. The nation demand answer.
Under immense pressure, Babangida “stepped aside” on August 26, 1993, handing power to an unelected Interim National Government (ING) led by Chief Ernest Shonekan.
To many Nigerians, the ING was an insult, a puppet regime designed to cover up the treachery of June 12….
That frustration was what MAD sought to amplify. The hijackers chose their moment carefully. Flight WT470 wasn’t just another plane, it carried several high-profile passengers, including:
Brigadier-General Hafiz Momoh, Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
Professor Jubril Aminu, former Minister of Petroleum
Rong Yiren, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China
The hijackers boarded the flight with terrifying ease. The metal detectors at the domestic wing of Lagos Airport had been out of service since 1987. They smuggled aboard petrol stored in raffia bags, lighters, a tear gas canister, jackknives, and what they later claimed were replica firearms.
Once the plane was in the air, they revealed themselves, poured petrol on the floor and on themselves, and issued their demands: the aircraft should be diverted to Frankfurt, Germany.
Frankfurt was out of reach without refueling. The pilots first tried to land in N’Djamena, Chad, but were denied entry. The same response came from Gabon and Ghana. Eventually, the plane was permitted to land at Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, capital of the Republic of Niger. After taking over the plane that day, they handed out printed MAD manifestos to the passengers.
Hours after landing in Niamey, the hijackers released 123 hostages, mostly women, children, and foreign nationals like Rong Yiren. The next day, General Momoh was also freed, as his hypertensive condition worsened under stress. But the hijackers held onto other high-profile passengers, hoping to force the Nigerian government’s hand.
1. Justice for Dele Giwa, the Newswatch editor killed by a parcel bomb in 1986.
2. An official investigation into the crash of a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft in 1992 that killed over 150 military officers.
3. A full explanation of the annulment of the June 12 elections.
4. The exposure and prosecution of those responsible for the annulment.
5. The official recognition of MKO Abiola as the legitimate President of Nigeria.
They gave a 72-hour deadline, after which they threatened to burn the plane with all remaining passengers on board.
While the hijack played out in Niger, Jerry Yusuf, a little-known cocoa trader and former Germany-based activist, had already introduced himself to the Nigerian press as the founder of MAD. Just a week earlier, he had walked into the offices of The Nigerian Tribune and spoke passionately about restoring democracy, spiritual visions, and his willingness to die for Nigeria.
The interview was published days before the hijack, effectively tying him to the incident. Nigerian authorities began hunting him immediately.
In the dead of night on October 28, 1993, as the 72-hour deadline expired, Nigerien special forces launched a commando-style assault on the aircraft. A brief but intense gunfight ensued.
Richard Ogunderu was shot in the leg but survived.
Ethelbert Nwanze Igwe, a 35-year-old assistant purser on the flight, was not so lucky. He was killed in the crossfire, the only fatality of the hijacking.
The four hijackers and Jerry Yusuf who had been arrested and extradited to Niger were imprisoned in Niger. Yusuf was released in 2000, and the rest of the group walked free in 2002 after nearly a decade behind bars.
Upon their return to Nigeria, the hijackers found a country still spinning in political instability. MKO Abiola had been imprisoned in 1994 after declaring himself President in a bold speech delivered in the Epetedo area of Lagos. He died mysteriously in detention on July 7, 1998, just weeks after General Sani Abacha, the military strongman who overthrew Shonekan, also died suddenly.
At a press appearance after his release, Ogunderu explained why he joined the hijack plot:
“I wanted to leave Nigeria for greener pastures. But then I met Jerry Yusuf, and I realized I couldn’t run from this country’s problems forever.”
He believed the only meaningful way to fix Nigeria was to stand and fight, not flee.
Today, the 1993 plane hijack remains a largely forgotten episode in Nigeria’s long, turbulent struggle for democracy. Overshadowed by the drama of Abiola’s arrest and death, buried under the military boot of Sani Abacha, and erased by the passage of time, the story of MAD is barely remembered.
Even MKO Abiola distanced himself from the hijack, condemning it as misguided. Many activists labelled it reckless. And with the death of an innocent airline staff, the moral ground of the action was heavily debated.
Yet, the hijackers never intended to kill. They said so themselves. What they wanted, desperately was for Nigeria to listen.
A youthful cry, echoing through a country that was no longer listening.
The Federal Road Safety Corps, on Friday, urged motorists who are participating in the fasting periods, to ensure that they take rest at intervals, to avoid road crashes.
The FRSC Commander in-charge of the Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressway corridor, Mr Nasir Mohammed, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ota.
He noted that the advice had become expedient following the commencement of fasting periods by both Christian and Muslim faithfuls.
NAN reports that Catholic faithfuls had commenced lenten season with the distribution of Ash on Wednesday, which period is marked by 40 days fasting.
In the same vein, Muslim faithfuls had also began observation of Ramadan in the Islamic calendar, which period is also marked by fasting.
Mohammed urged motorists to be cautious of fatigue and possible dehydration during the fasting periods, and ensure that they take hours of rest before returning to the steering.
He also warned motorists against over speeding and wrongful overtaking, which could lead to tragedy, adding that drivers must strictly adhere to all safety rules while on the road.
“We are appealing to motorists, especially Muslims and Christians who are fasting, to always observe the rest after every four hours of driving, to prevent avoidable loss of lives.
“Also, all motorists are enjoined to drive to stay alive; Wishing all safer roads and fuller life.” he said.
Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye has disclosed that the Nigerian Tiktoker, simply identified as Mirable, has been admitted to a State-owned health facility, and is currently receiving comprehensive medical attention.
Adeleye added that an investigation had begun and the survivor is presently receiving psychosocial support, and is responding positively to medical treatment.
The commissioner stated this on Thursday night shortly after visiting the survivor at the health facility, in the company of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, and the Medical Director of the facility.
According to her, the visit was aimed at assessing the survivor’s condition and ensuring that appropriate medical and welfare interventions were promptly administered.
The Commissioner praised the personnel at the State-owned medical facility and the State Ministry of Justice for their quick response, as well as the Nigeria Police Force and Ogun State Police Command for their rapid and timely action as soon as the case was transferred to the State.
“This structured approach is intended to protect the survivor’s welfare while guaranteeing that investigations are conducted professionally, thoroughly, and strictly on the basis of verifiable evidence”, Adeleye said.
She added that detailed examinations and all required clinical procedures are being carried out in line with established standards for managing cases of alleged sexual assault, while the security agency is carrying out their investigation simultaneously.
“The welfare, dignity, and safety of every survivor remains our utmost priority. The Prince Dapo Abiodun led- administration maintains a zero-tolerance stance on sexual and gender-based violence, stressing that “while we stand firmly with survivors, we are equally guided by due process.
“Investigations must be evidence-based, transparent, and fair to all parties involved, even as whosoever is found wanting would be made to face the full wrath of the law,” she said.
She urged residents to steer clear of speculative narratives or sensational commentary that could compromise due process while assuring them that the State Government would get to the bottom of the issue to ascertain the veracity of the claim.
Meanwhile, she assured members of the public that further updates would be communicated at the appropriate time as credible findings emerge from ongoing investigations.
Nigerian TikToker, known simply as Mirabel has finally opened up on the allegation of rape she earlier raised in a viral video.
It was recalls that the content creator, with the username @mirab351 had, alleged that she was sexually assaulted by an unknown man at her residence in Ogun State.
She claimed that the alleged rapist inflicted an injury on her privates with a blade.
Her story generated reactions across social media, causing the Nigeria Police to swing into action.
Some netizens, however, expressed scepticism on the factuality of the allegation, stating that the stories were not adding up.
But the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said on Thursday that the command was investigating the matter.
However, Mirabel, who opened up to Popular social media activist, Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, VDM said she had been into drugs and could be hallucinating.
