VIGILANTES SLASH CRIME IN NIGERIA STATE BACKS SQUAD WIELDING MACHETES

From: The Boston Globe | Date: March 18, 2001| Author: Ivan Watson, Globe Correspondent | Copyright information

ONITSHA, Nigeria - Sirens blaring, a station wagon loaded with young men waving machetes forced its way down this city's clogged streets.

One man ran ahead of the car, banging two machetes against vehicles caught in the traffic jam. Pedestrians and a half-dozen motorcyclists fell over one another to get out of the way.

The state vigilantes were on patrol.

Joe Akufe was driving their car with one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the machete in his lap.

A y...

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