The Federal High court in Abuja has ordered the release from detention of Lamido Sanusi, the former emir of Kano deposed and exiled by the governor of the state of Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje. The decision follows a suit filed by Sanusi in federal court. It remains to be seen whether the judge’s orders will be carried out; the rule of law can be weak in Nigeria, especially when it comes to high-profile political prisoners.

This update represents violence in Nigeria and related to Boko Haram in Cameroon, Chad, and Niger from November 5 to November 11, 2022. 

Last week’s gruesome murder of Deborah Yakubu, a home economics sophomore at the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, comes at a time of escalating social and economic tension in Nigeria, and will most certainly raise the political stakes as the country enters electioneering season in preparation for next year’s presidential election.

As of April 29, Nigeria has recorded over 1,300 cases, with 40 deaths attributed to COVID-19. Nigeria’s coronavirus spread had been concentrated in Abuja, Lagos, and Ogun state, the latter effectively a suburb of Lagos. Those three areas have been under lockdown since March 30, with an announcement by President Buhari to begin easing some restrictions beginning on May 4.