Four Prisoners Hanged in Nigeria

Four prisoners have been hanged in Nigeria, an official said on Tuesday, in the first known executions since 2006 which Amnesty International described as "a truly dark day for human rights in the country".

Nigeria has faced international criticism over its death penalty and an estimated 1,000 people are on death row.

The four prisoners were convicted of either armed robbery or murder and were hanged in southern Edo state on Monday, the state's justice minister told Reuters by phone.

"They have been on death row for a long time and they were executed yesterday," Henry Idahagbon said. He did not say why authorities had decided to use the death penalty after a gap of seven years.

"These executions mark a sudden, brutal return to the use of the death penalty in Nigeria, a truly dark day for human rights in the country," said Lucy Freeman, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for Africa.

Idahagbon said two of the death warrants had been signed by Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, and the other two by the previous governor.

"If the international community deems it wrong they should approach the national assembly for review of the law," he said.

Brussels Airport Theft: Robbers seize diamonds worth 350mn Euro

Eight armed robbers disguised as police officers and brandishing machine guns have disappeared into thin air with diamonds worth 350 million euro ($467 million) while the gems were being loaded onto a plane at Brussels Airport on Monday evening, media reports say.


Two vehicles carrying four armed men drove up to a security van near the Swiss passenger plane, Reuters said, citing officials. The men were masked.

No shots were fired and nobody was injured. Both vehicles sped off and robbers got onto the tarmac after breaking through the fence that surrounds the airport.

The robbery was carried out with carefully orchestrated plans and a high degree of expertise. The robbers must have been familiar with the terrain well and would have perfected different strategies of escape in case complications arose.