Entertainment
Hijack ’93: How four Nigerian teen hijacked a plane and held 190 passengers hostage
On 25 October 1993, four teenage boys boarded a Nigeria Airways flight from Lagos to Abuja with a clear agenda: hijack the aircraft, take all 193 passengers hostage and force the government to bend to their demands.
The moment the pilot told passengers they could unfasten their seatbelts, the young men – aged between 16 and 18 – sprung into action.
After entering the cockpit with a fake gun, the second step of their plan was to declare that the commercial aircraft – which had several leading politicians on board – was now being controlled by the Movement for the Advancement of Democracy (MAD).
‘Remain calm, we will not harm you,’ they reportedly told the terrified travellers. ‘You will be told where the plane will land you.’
But despite their claims that there would be no casualties, the teenagers’ carefully constructed plan quickly descended into chaos – culminating in the death of a crew member following four days of tense negotiations.
Pictured: Netflix’s adaptation of the 1993 Nigeria Airways hijacking, which saw four teenagers take control of a commercial aircraft on behalf of Movement for the Advancement of Democracy
Undated photo of Nigeria Airways hijackers Richard Ajibola Ogunderu, Kabir Adenuga, Benneth Oluwadaisi & Kenny Rasaq-Lawal
31 years on from the incident, Netflix has dramatised the case in their film Hijack ’93, which lands on the streaming platform tomorrow.
Here FEMAIL delves into hijacking that had Nigeria on tenterhooks in October 1993 – and why the men have since been celebrated as heroes.
Political unrest in run-up
The 1980s and 1990s were a particularly turbulent time for politics in the West African country.
In 1983, the Nigerian military staged a coup to overthrow President Shehu Shagri’s elected government.
Over the next 10 years, power only passed through the hands of the military, which resulted in internal uprising and power struggles among leaders.
In 1990, Major Gideon Orkar attempted to overthrow the government through a failed military coup – after General Ibrahim Babangida took power via the same means five years before.
Three years later, the country went to the polls for the first time in over a decade – with Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, who was the leader of the Social Democratic Party, winning over the National Republican Convention’s Alhaji Bashir Tofa.
Pictured: Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, who won the 1993 Nigerian Presidential election with eight million votes
Although MKO Abiola won in a landslide and secured eight million votes, the military government proceeded to annul the election – citing security threats.
At the time, military leader General Ibrahim Babangida said in a statement that ‘these steps were taken to save our judiciary from being ridiculed and politicized locally and internationally’.
However, the decision led to unrest among the population amid growing fears there would be indefinite military rule.
A Western diplomat in West Africa told the New York Times in 1993: ‘The military has only themselves to blame for this mess.’
Hijacking plane with a toy gun
On 25 October 1993, four teenage boys boarded a Nigeria Airways flight from Lagos to Abuja with a clear agenda: hijack the aircraft, take all 193 passengers hostage and force their military government to bend to their demands
After three months of protests, teenagers Richard Ogunderu, Kabir Adenuga, Benneth Oluwadaisi and Kenny Rasaq-Lawal decided to send a message to the Nigerian government.
When they boarded the Nigeria Airways plane, the foursome had already prepared statements demanding MKO Abiola be instated as the country’s rightful leader, which they handed out to passengers.
They also demanded the military return embezzled money to the state and reopen a series of closed newspaper companies and universities.
Before the incident, Ogunderu – who grew up in a middle class neighbourhood and was one of five children – told Sahara Reporters that some of them had not even been on a plane before.
Speaking to Neusroom in 2022, Richard Ogunderu’s father Yemi described him as ‘strong-willed and obstinate’.
He added: ‘[Richard] would tell me, “you old men just sat there bemoaning your fate, won’t you do something about this country?”
‘The relationship between us was beyond father and son. We relate like brothers. I didn’t even know when he became a member of MAD. He had never discussed activism with me even though he knew I’m highly opinionated about socio-political issues.’
Speaking to The Punch, one of the hijackers said they targeted this specific aircraft because it ‘flew the calibre of people we wanted to deal with’.
The Nigeria Airways hijacking left one member of crew dead in 1993 when military forces stormed the plane
31 years on from the incident, Netflix has dramatised the case in their film Hijack ’93, which lands on the streaming platform tomorrow
As well as China’s vice president Rong Yiren, there were also top Nigerian government officials on board.
Speaking to the Sahara Reporters in 2009, Richard Ogunderu – who was the group’s leader – explained: ‘We were on a mission.
‘We wanted to show the evil [military] regime that young people were prepared to go the extra length to free Nigerians from the yoke of military dictatorship.’
He then revealed how he was the one to enter the cockpit, where he pointed a fake gun at the pilot and told him to redirect the plane. A fellow hijacker later claimed that Ogunderu pretended to be a student who wanted to look at the plane’s controls.
Although reports stated that Ogunderu wanted to land in Germany, the plane didn’t have enough fuel – as their planned journey should have only taken just over an hour.
As such, the hijacker settled on Niamey in Niger instead – where they were met with armed forces.
While the aircraft was still in the air, the hijackers doused themselves in the six litres of fuel they had smuggled onto the plane and threatened to set themselves on fire if passengers didn’t follow orders.
Threatening to blow up plane
After the plane landed, the hijackers began negotiations with the police – with the foursome initially demanding they get more fuel so they could fly to Frankfurt.
Pictured: John Dumelo playing one of the four teenage hijackers in the Netflix dramatisation of the 1993 incident
When this was denied, they teenagers urged the government to recognise the results of the June Nigerian Presidential election.
If MKO Abiola was not sworn in as President in 78 hours, the teenagers claimed they would set the plane on fire.
In an interview with The Nollywood Reporter in July 2023, Richard explained how he was connected to a BBC journalist to ‘tell the world their message’.
He added: ‘I said we were going to burn the plane within 78 hours if our requests were not met.
‘Of course, that was just a scare tactic. We’ve decided to let the pleading passengers go the next day.’
In the first two hours, the hijackers released women and children – before releasing a further 129 the following day, including the Chinese vice president.
However, they refused to give up the crew or Nigerian government workers.
At first, the authorities offered not to arrest the hijackers – as long as they released the remaining hostages.
Ogunderu added: ‘We were not afraid, at that moment, death meant nothing to us.’
Rescue operation leaves one dead
Kabir Adenuga, Benneth Oluwadaisi & Kenny Rasaq-Lawal pictured in 2023 when they gave an interview to local media
For four days, authorities held off on entering the aircraft – fearing the hijackers may detonate a bomb.
But on 28 October, police stormed the plane in the middle of the night.
‘They thought we were asleep, so they came under the cover of the night and fired several shots,’ Ogunderu said. ‘They bombarded the plane.’
The rescue operation claimed the life of crew member Ethel Igwe while Richard was also injured. One of the hijackers later said over 300 shots were fired during the mission.
Richard told the Nollywood Reporter: ‘I am deeply sorry about [Ethel’s] death, and that in itself was one of the reasons we were clamouring for democracy.
The military government was notorious for wanton killing and abuse of human rights. That should never have happened.’
Following this, the hijackers were arrested and were sentenced to over nine months in prison in Niger. They claim to have served their sentence in one small cell, which also served as a toilet.
Despite the teenagers’ efforts, the interim military government was replaced by General Sani Abacha’s dictatorship.
The late dictator was in power from 1993 to 1998 and was the last successful military coup in the country’s history.
Although they were unsuccessful in achieving their goal, Richard Ogunderu, Kabir Adenuga, Benneth Oluwadaisi and Kenny Rasaq-Lawal are seen by some as modern-day ‘heroes’.
Speaking to The Punch in 2023, Benneth Oluwadaisi said he wanted to ‘fight for the stability of democracy in Nigeria’.
In response to the report, one X user wrote: ‘These guys are heroes, honestly. The way they went about it, though, wasn’t plausible, but they have earned my respect for their courage and brevity.’
Another added: ‘In as much as this is a wrong thing to do, I’m proud of them. They fought for freedom, democracy and what they believed in.’
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12 Secret Santa Gifts That Could Get You Fired
‘Tis the season for Secret Santa—but not all gifts are created equal. Horror stories of Secret Santas in years gone by include being given a dead aloe vera plant, a rotten banana, a roll of duct tape, and even a pair of Kegel balls!
“Sometimes what seems like harmless fun can turn into an HR horror story faster than you can say ‘naughty list,’” say the experts at Indexsy.
“While Secret Santa is meant to spread holiday cheer, it’s important to remember that even during festive times, workplace rules still apply.”
So, before you buy that ‘hilarious’ gag gift, here are the real rules of workplace gifting.
1. Keep It PG, Please
Lingerie, adult toys, or anything you’d blush while buying shouldn’t end up in a workplace gift exchange.
Sure, it might get a laugh, but it’ll also get you a stern talk from HR. Let’s keep the holiday spirit… professional.
2. Hygiene Gone Wrong
Deodorant, breath mints, or acne cream might seem useful, but they also scream, “I think you need this!”
“These items feel less like thoughtful gifts and more like passive-aggressive critiques, leaving your coworker wondering if you think they stink,” says Indexsy. “No one wants their Secret Santa moment to feel like a personal intervention.”
3. Not The Time For Tough Love
Unless your colleague specifically asked for a kettlebell or a diet cookbook, these gifts can come across as a not-so-subtle way of saying, “You should work on yourself.”
Nobody wants their holiday cheer turned into a New Year’s guilt trip! Let your colleagues enjoy their holiday cookies in peace.
4. The “Wow” That Feels Weird
Buying your coworker an expensive smartwatch or designer bag might seem generous, but it can make others feel awkward or pressured to splurge next year.
Not everyone can afford to reciprocate such extravagance, and Secret Santa is about fun, not outshining the entire office.
5. The Spending Limit Matters
Speaking of price caps, don’t be that person who ignores them. If the spending limit is $20, don’t show up with a $50 bottle of wine.
Breaking the rules might seem like a flex, but it can make everyone else uncomfortable or downright annoyed.
6. The Ghosts Of Gifts Past
That unopened candle from last year or the mug with a slight chip might feel like an easy way out, but it’s a surefire way to make someone feel unappreciated.
Re-gifting is the gift that says, “I forgot about this entirely.” Secret Santa is about thoughtfulness, not clearing out your junk drawer.
7. Helpful? Maybe. Awkward? Absolutely.
Books like How to Stop Procrastinating or Five Steps To Fix Your Finances might look inspiring on the shelf but feel patronising under the tree.
“Even if your intentions are good, the effect is awkward—like you’re saying your colleague is lazy or bad with money,” says Indexsy. “Self-improvement is great, but not when it’s gifted unsolicited.”
8. Let’s Not Start A Debate
Anything involving politics, religion, or polarising celebrities or public figures is a recipe for awkwardness.
Secret Santa is meant to unite coworkers, not spark debates or awkward silences, so save the think-pieces for your book club.
9. Smells Like Trouble
Perfumes and candles are tricky territory—what might smell heavenly to you could trigger headaches—or even allergic reactions—in others.
“Scent is very personal, so it’s hard to gift unless you know for sure what they like,” says Indexsy.
10. Jokes That Don’t Land
Mocking someone’s religion, culture, or gender isn’t edgy or cute—it’s offensive. Gag gifts should be funny for everyone, not just a small subset of people who are the majority or find discomfort amusing.
If you have to ask, “Will this be taken the wrong way?” The answer is probably yes.
11. Bake With Caution
Your great-aunt’s recipe for chocolate-pepper-pickle brownies might be a family hit, but your coworkers are probably less adventurous.
Also, there’s a strong chance you could be giving your coworker something with an ingredient they don’t like – or worse, one they’re allergic to.
If you really want people to try it, bring the dish in as a gift for everyone to share rather than putting one person on the spot.
12. Gross, Not Great
Fart noise machines, fake poop, or anything involving bodily fluids might seem hilarious… to a five-year-old. Your coworkers? Not so much.
“Gifts like these are unlikely to go over well in a professional setting,” says Indexsy. “Unless your office culture is very lax, these gifts are better left in the joke shop.”
“Choosing a Secret Santa gift for a coworker doesn’t have to be a minefield. We recommend practical but creative items, like a quirky mug paired with their favourite tea or coffee, a desktop plant to brighten their workspace, or a puzzle or game. Universal crowd-pleasers like cozy socks, gourmet snacks, or fun desk accessories can also be a good call,” Indexsy commented.
“The key is to give something small that shows you’ve put in a little thought without going overboard. You can also think about things people might not splurge on for themselves but would enjoy having.
“If you’re unsure about their tastes, you have two options. You can keep it safe and stick to light-hearted, non-personal gifts, like a calendar or a gift card to a local coffee shop. Or you can ask someone who knows them better if there’s anything they’d particularly like.
“Remember, you’re aiming for a moment of joy, not a major statement. Your Secret Santa gift can say, ‘I hope this brightens your day,’ rather than ‘I know everything about you.’”
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