Dikko Affair
Encyclopedia
The Dikko Affair was a 1984 Nigeria
n military government attempt to kidnap Umaru Dikko
, a former Nigerian civilian government minister living in United Kingdom
, and secretly transport him back to Nigeria in a diplomatic bag
. After it was foiled, the political fallout seriously damaged relations between the two countries for years.
Shehu Shagari
, his brother-in-law. Exploiting his influence with Shagari, he enriched himself through widespread corruption. After a 1983 coup d'etat
, he fled into exile in London
, where he became a vocal critic of the new regime.
Though Israel
, at the time, did not have formal diplomatic relations with predominantly Muslim
Nigeria, there were less visible ties between the two nations. Nigeria was an important source of oil for Israel. Thus, it was not altogether surprising that the Israeli national intelligence agency Mossad
was recruited to locate and bring Dikko back to Nigeria to stand trial.
Boeing 707
was arriving to pick up diplomatic baggage. The next day, Dikko was kidnapped while he was out for a walk and taken away in a van driven by ex-Nigerian army major Mohammed Yusufu. He was then drugged into unconsciousness by Dr. Levi-Arie Shapiro, an Israeli recruited by Mossad. However, the crime was witnessed by Dikko's secretary, Elizabeth Hayes, who quickly notified the authorities.
Dikko and Shapiro were placed in one crate (dimensions 1.2 x 1.2 x 1.5 meters), while Mossad agents Alexander Barak and Felix Abithol occupied a second. However, proper documentation that would have ensured that the cargo could not be inspected was not provided. The crates were not labeled as diplomatic bags, as required by Article 27(5) of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
. As a result, alerted customs officials were able to open the crates without violating the convention and foil the kidnapping. Dikko was taken to a hospital; he was uninjured.
Seventeen men were arrested; four were convicted and sentenced to prison terms of 10 to 14 years: Shapiro, Barak, Abithol, and Yusufu. In retaliation, two British engineers in Nigeria were arrested and given fourteen year sentences. The four were released after serving between six and eight and a half years.
Dikko was eventually invited to return to his native land. He accepted and set up a political party.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n military government attempt to kidnap Umaru Dikko
Umaru Dikko
Umaru Dikko is a Nigerian politician and was a trusted adviser to President Shehu Shagari. He was also the Nigerian minister for Transportation from 1979-1983....
, a former Nigerian civilian government minister living in United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and secretly transport him back to Nigeria in a diplomatic bag
Diplomatic bag
A diplomatic bag, also known as a diplomatic pouch is a kind of receptacle used by diplomatic missions. The physical concept of a "diplomatic bag" is flexible and therefore can take many forms e.g. an envelope, parcel, large suitcase or shipping container, etc...
. After it was foiled, the political fallout seriously damaged relations between the two countries for years.
Background
Dikko was an influential Transport Minister in the civilian administration of PresidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Shehu Shagari
Shehu Shagari
Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, Turakin Sakkwato served as the President of Nigeria's Second Republic , after the handover of power by General Olusegun Obasanjo's military government....
, his brother-in-law. Exploiting his influence with Shagari, he enriched himself through widespread corruption. After a 1983 coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
, he fled into exile in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he became a vocal critic of the new regime.
Though Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, at the time, did not have formal diplomatic relations with predominantly Muslim
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
Nigeria, there were less visible ties between the two nations. Nigeria was an important source of oil for Israel. Thus, it was not altogether surprising that the Israeli national intelligence agency Mossad
Mossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
was recruited to locate and bring Dikko back to Nigeria to stand trial.
The kidnapping
On July 4, 1984, British authorities were notified that a Nigeria AirwaysNigeria Airways
Nigeria Airways Ltd., more commonly known as Nigeria Airways, is a defunct Nigerian airline. The company was founded in 1958 after the dissolution of West African Airways Corporation. It was wholly owned by the Government of Nigeria, and served as the country's flag carrier. The airline was...
Boeing 707
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
was arriving to pick up diplomatic baggage. The next day, Dikko was kidnapped while he was out for a walk and taken away in a van driven by ex-Nigerian army major Mohammed Yusufu. He was then drugged into unconsciousness by Dr. Levi-Arie Shapiro, an Israeli recruited by Mossad. However, the crime was witnessed by Dikko's secretary, Elizabeth Hayes, who quickly notified the authorities.
Dikko and Shapiro were placed in one crate (dimensions 1.2 x 1.2 x 1.5 meters), while Mossad agents Alexander Barak and Felix Abithol occupied a second. However, proper documentation that would have ensured that the cargo could not be inspected was not provided. The crates were not labeled as diplomatic bags, as required by Article 27(5) of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 is an international treaty that defines a framework for diplomatic relations between independent countries. It specifies the privileges of a diplomatic mission that enable diplomats to perform their function without fear of coercion or...
. As a result, alerted customs officials were able to open the crates without violating the convention and foil the kidnapping. Dikko was taken to a hospital; he was uninjured.
Repercussions
The Nigerian and Israeli governments never admitted any connection to the incident. Nonetheless, Great Britain expelled two members of the Nigerian High Commission. In addition, diplomatic relations with Nigeria were broken off for two years.Seventeen men were arrested; four were convicted and sentenced to prison terms of 10 to 14 years: Shapiro, Barak, Abithol, and Yusufu. In retaliation, two British engineers in Nigeria were arrested and given fourteen year sentences. The four were released after serving between six and eight and a half years.
Dikko was eventually invited to return to his native land. He accepted and set up a political party.