Beware the Bakassi Boys
Vigilantes against crime in southern Nigeria
FROM a dank building known as the White House in the heart of Onitsha's market, a group of young thugs known as the Bakassi Boys hold sway over what was once southern Nigeria's most violent city.The Bakassi, wearing the black T-shirts and red bandannas of Los Angeles rap singers, are vigilantes, brought in to clean up a dirty town.
This article appeared in the International section of the print edition under the headline “Beware the Bakassi Boys”
From the May 19th 2001 edition
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