TRACKING SHOT Military convoy on outskirts of Lagos.
CU Pedestrians going home.
GV Troops on roadside.
SV Fire engine outside N.E.T. (Telecommunications) building.
TRACKING SHOT Troops on roadside while others search vehicles.
LV Traffic at roadblock.
SV Soldier searching vehicle.
TV PULL BACK TO GV Marketplace, with people listening to message over loudhailer.
LV & SV Buildings of banned political parties -- National Party of Nigeria, the United Party of Nigeria and the People's Redemption Party. (3 SHOTS)

(2.07)
PD/JRS

Background: The Nigerian military successfully staged their fifth coup in 17 years on December 31.They seized power from President Shehu Shagari, ending four years of democratic civilian rule.The army, led by Major-General Mohammed Buhari; 41, said in an early-morning radio broadcast that the takeover had been a bloodless one.The situation in and around Lagos on December 31 appeared relatively calm.Troops in full combat gear took up positions around the capital and carried out searches of civilians and vehicles.The new military rulers had imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew, closed airports, harbours and border posts.They also cut links with the outside world and suspended the constitution.The coup field commander, Brigadier Saleh Abacha, 40, said all federal ministers had been dismissed while the national assembly and 19 state governments were dissolved.All elected and appointed senior officials were told to report to police within a week.Political parties, including Shagari's National Party of Nigeria, the Unity Party of Nigeria and the People's Redemption Party, were banned.A military announcement said anyone caught disturbing public order would be swiftly dealt with.Nigerian News Agency (NAN) reports spoke of the general calm throughout the country, and mentioned trouble only in Minna, Central Nigeria.There, an unknown group had burned pictures of local politicians.General Buhari said on January 5 that the deposed president was under military guard in Lagos.He was detained on the night of the coup in Abuja.On January 3, the Supreme Military Council - the country's new ruling body - was announced with General Buhari at its head.The same day, the curfew was lifted.Airports and international telex and telephone links were re-opened.On January 4, in his first meeting with foreign diplomats, General Buhari said reasons for the coup were the economic crisis and a corrupt political administration.President Shagari was returned to power on October 1, 1983, for a second and final four-year-term of office amid widespread allegations of vote-ringing.Over 100 people died in western areas during the election campaign.British-trained General Buhari said in his first news conference on January 5 that Nigeria would continue as a member of OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries), and would continue talks with the IMF (International Monetary Fund) for a large loan to pull the country out of its economic crisis.Reuters reports suggested he was prepared to accept devaluation of the naira if the IMF loan was given.The economy had been adversely affected by high inflation and a slump in demand for Nigeria's main export, oil.