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“When a nation pardons criminals faster than it rewards its heroes; it teaches the next generation that crime is a (lucrative) career.”
–Anonymous
Two outstanding encounters defined the Ibadan heroes of June 12. With vigour, we were driven by our strong belief in democracy. And its now bastardised expectant dividends. In our own case. No hypocrisy intended.
Rather, a resolve was boiling in the inside of us. A fire of some genuine sort that couldn’t be quenched. Even by the military might of that time. The hardest they tried. The hardest they failed woefully. The brawls were tagged: June 12 struggle.
The heaviest part of the burden fell on the media. It never shivered, nor quivered. But shouldered it to the best of its ability, capability and capacity. It was a call-up to national service. A sharp “shut-back” explains it better.
Tuesday, April 14, 1998, was the D-Day. Venue, Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan. And it happened the way conveners didn’t plan it. It backfired the manner they never envisaged. The rally was meant to enhance the ugly ambition of General Sani Abacha. He vowed to recast into a civilian president. Collapsing all the existing political parties to one
But it turned out otherwise. Nasty and unpleasing. It ended in a full-blown violent incident. Pro-democracy activists twisted the pro-Abacha rally upside down. Abacha’s chief enablers, Chief Lamidi Adedibu and Alhaji Azeez Arisekola-Alao, goofed gravely. They committed the worst error of their lives. They were on top of the situation. So, they believed. And confident as usual.
They were taken aback. The ugly turn of the event taught them a hard lesson. Their deadly handiwork nearly consumed them. But mother luck smiled at them. Help came when it mattered most. And were smuggled out of the stadium. Maximum terror was unleashed on the protesters by security agents and thugs.
Journalists again bore the brunt. They included Festus Adedayo of Omega Weekly, Dapo Ogunwusi, Tinu Ayanniyi and Lasisi Olagunju, all of the Nigerian Tribune. Glaringly, the hardest hit was the duo of rights activists: The legendary Comrade Ola Oni and Comrade Moshood Erubami. They were the masterminds that made it happen the way it happened.
Barely two weeks after. Precisely on May 1, 1998. There was a determined follow-up. Of course, by the anti-Abacha camp. It was aptly christened, May Day Riots. It rocked the nooks and crannies of Ibadan city.
The piece below is about that protest. It was first published in Daily Sun, Thursday, May 7, 2026. It draws attention to the Ibadan unsung heroes of June 12. Now for the umpteenth time. It’s re-produced slightly modified, updated. Reason?
President Bola Tinubu rolled out another list of new honourees on June 12, 2026. We, the Ibadan warriors of June 12, did not make it again. We were completely missing on his radar. Consciously? Deliberate intention? Then, why? We were forced to ponder aloud. The prayers prayed vehemently on May 7, 2026, are yet to be addressed and attended to.
That’s very saddening. We’re not asking for too much. Not anything extraordinary. Neither are we complaining or out of place. An honour done to one should be done to all. It’s our simple, honest appeal, our supplication. We dread remaining unsung. We cannot be tired. We refuse to be bored. Or be bugged down. Our strength is in the Lord, the Creator!
Now, the entreaty of May 7, 2026, they ignored. It runs:
“What a concise coincidence! Friday, May 1, 2026, another May Day fell on Friday. Just as it did precisely 28 years ago, Friday, May 1, 1998. That fateful day, the bubble burst on that dark-googled tyrant, General Sani Abacha. It was May Day Riots! In Ibadan, Oyo State.
“It was a message, a protest to stop Abacha becoming a civilian president. That riot clocks 28 years tomorrow. And its deep wounds are yet to be fully healed. The very reason, these Ibadan heroes of June 12, shouldn’t remain unsung, unhonoured. It’s a passionate but strong plea. And still timely. Yes, it is!
“We are the ‘Prisoners of War’ (POW) of the June 12. Let’s acknowledge them. And accede the honours due them this season. Even as a token of their sacrifice. It’s never late. We’re still in the mood for democracy.
“The riot was one violent protest that rattled the authorities. And their response was equally brutal, bloody. They wasted lives in their suicidal attempt to suppress it. The riot was against the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
“This particular one was to confront the military maximum ruler, Abacha. He was desperate. Scheming to transmute into a civilian president. His planned D-day was October 1, 1998. He never did. The day came. But Abacha was no more. He didn’t witness it. The riots shook Ibadan to its foundation.
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“The protesters stormed the city from three directions, simultaneously: Ibadan end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway; Iwo Road and Oyo-Ilorin Road.
“They converged on the Secretariat, Agodi. And spread like locusts. To almost all strategic points in Ibadan. At least, six lives were wasted at the Ring Road axis. Security agents did the deed. A bad deal!
“I was Editor, Sunday Tribune. That day, I was in the office, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. The reporters were out in the streets. I was monitoring them with some other staff.
“The sister title, Saturday Tribune, expectedly feasted on the story the following day. I needed a fresh and more detailed angle to fly the Sunday Tribune. I knew readers would be on the serious lookout. Waiting for it with bated breath to be served hot.
“On Saturday, May 2, 1998, I constituted a three-man team. I led the team with my Utility Reporter, Paul Ogundipe (of blessed memory) and a photographer. Together we “combed” every known “hideouts” of the activists in Ibadan. It was fruitful. And highly rewarding. We got startling details. Talked to varied sources including eyewitnesses and rights activists.
“The next day, May 3, 1998, Sunday Tribune screamed, Genesis of Ibadan bloodbath: The untold story. That was my ‘undoing,’ my ‘offence.’ Operatives of the then State Security Service (SSS), now Department of State Security (DSS), invaded the Tribune office that same day.
“They charged into the Newsroom. They roared like lions. They wanted Femi Adeoti, Editor, Sunday Tribune and Paul Ogundipe, for a cheap feast. They angrily left a note for me. Its message shouted: ‘Report at the Alalubosa Office, at the earliest time, or…’ They repeated the visit, like the previous day’s manner, on Monday morning, May 4. As usual accompanied with a threat, which they deodorised as an ‘invitation.’
“All through Sunday, Monday, I was out of Ibadan. On Tuesday, May 5, 1998, after making consultations. I was advised to honour the ‘invitation.’ And I did in the afternoon. I showed up at the SSS office, Alalubosa, Alesinloye, Ibadan.
“Its state Director was at that time attending a security meeting on the riots at the Military Administrator’s Office, Agodi. His deputy told me to come back the following day. After waiting for close to four hours. He gave me a tall task; I must come back with the reporter, Paul Ogundipe.
“Meanwhile, security agencies were making random arrests of suspected ‘rioters.’ In the process, they picked their ‘suspects’ on the streets, in workshops, homes, shops. A mother of a week-old baby was even ‘arrested’ in a hospital at Osasona Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan.
“I went back to the SSS Office, Wednesday, May 6, 1998. And my detention began to tick and count days. I met Chief Bola Ige and Alhaji Lam Adesina, former governor of Oyo State. They were my neighbours in SSS. Each of us to a cell.
“Ige was former governor of old Oyo State. He held sway in the Second Republic. Between October 1,1979 and December 31, 1983. The day enfant terrible, then Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, scuttled democracy. He sent former President Shehu Shagari packing with all the 19 governors of the time.
“Unfortunately, Ige was moved to Makurdi, Benue State, the third day of my stay in SSS. He was transported by road in a Toyota Hilux vehicle. All to break his spirit and resolve.
“Altogether, 50 of us were held in connection with the Ibadan riots. And we were tagged ‘Prisoners of War, POW.’ The Military Administrator, then Colonel Ahmed Usman, was our undertaker. He made the announcement to please and appease Abacha. He alleged Ige was the arrowhead. He sarcastically labelled him, ‘Chief Prisoner of War.’
“The POWs garb sticks till today. Other POWs included, but not limited to Comrade Ola Oni, Alhaji Akinsola (aka Tokyo), Alhaji Billiaminu (aka Baba 70) Sunday Blessing (all late), Kehinde Adesina, Jay-Jay Agboola and the only woman, Ayeola.
“I spent 11 days with SSS. Four days at the Police Area Command, Iyaganku. And the remaining days at Agodi Prisons, Ibadan. All summed up to 32 days in Abacha’s Gulag.
“Abacha died on Monday, June 8, 1998. In an unprecedented hurry. We were ferried to the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Iyaganku, the third day, Wednesday. And granted instant bail. The ‘luxury’ we were wickedly denied three times before!
“Details of this account are well documented. They are contained in my soon to be released book. Thanks for being on the lookout.”
See sense in our prayer to be so honoured as others? I bet you do. We remain resilient. Our faith is indestructible: We can’t be denied, ignored forever!
