US Raises Security Alert In Nigeria As Gunman Shoots Embassy Official In Abuja
LAGOS JUNE 12TH (NEWSRANGERS)-Security around the United States Embassy in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, has been beefed up following the shooting of an official of the embassy, last Thursday.
Also, other embassies and foreign missions have upped their security level, while urging their citizens and officials to take their security more seriously.
The staff, whose identity is yet to be revealed, was shot at the residential quarters of the U.S embassy located at Lake Chad Crescent, Maitama, Abuja.
It is unclear if the shot official is an American or a security contractor at the residence. However, reports indicate that the incident occurred at “about 2230hrs on Thursday night when an armed man on a motorcycle shot an officer attached to the US Embassy residential quarters in the mentioned location.”
The Abuja Inquirer was unable to ascertain which embassy official is housed in the affected facility. This newspaper, however, learnt that it has been a venue for some cocktails hosted by the embassy to mark certain events.
While officials are still uncertain as to the purpose of the shooting, the US Mission in an advisory urged its staff to maintain heightened situational awareness, “Monitor local news media for updates, maintain a low profile, look out and report suspicious activities.”
The US, in the advisory, also asked its officers to immediately review and maintain a robust personal and residential security posture while reaching out to the SRMT for guidance, if required.
The latest shooting is coming on the heels of an attack on a US Mission convoy in Anambra last month.
Armed men had on May 16, 2023, attacked a convoy of two U.S. government vehicles in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra state, where four police officers were killed.
The convoy carrying five employees of the U.S. Mission to Nigeria and four members of the Nigeria Police Force (all Nigerian nationals) was traveling in advance of a planned visit by U.S. Mission personnel to a U.S.-funded flood response project in Anambra, when they were attacked.
The U.S Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, had said the motive for the attack in Anambra state was not immediately clear, and that there were no indications at the time that it was targeted against the U.S Mission.
Blinken, had in statement condemned the attack, with a pledge that the United States will work closely with Nigerian law enforcement officials to bring those responsible to justice.
“We do not yet know the motive for the attack, but we have no indications at this time that it was targeted against our Mission. The assailants killed at least four members of the convoy, and U.S. Mission personnel are working urgently with Nigerian counterparts to ascertain the location and condition of the members of the convoy who are unaccounted for.
“We condemn in the strongest terms this attack. We will work closely with our Nigerian law enforcement colleagues in seeking to bring those responsible to justice.”
Since the Thursday attack, the Nigerian and U.S, governments have kept mute on the matter.
Attempts to get reactions from the FCT Police Command on the shooting incident proved abortive, as calls and messages to the Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, went unanswered.
However, the Command in a statement on Sunday, said it arrested a wanted logistics supplier and informant to a kidnapping and banditry group terrorizing the FCT and its environs.
The statement signed by PPRO Josephine Adeh, disclosed that the anti-Kidnapping unit of the Command arrested one Mohammed Hamza a.k.a Auta ‘m’ 25yrs old at the Mongoro Forest.
The statement reads, “The suspect, who has been on the wanted list of the Command, is being held for his involvement in supplying firearms, ammunition and other weapons; food items and illicit drugs to the criminals in their various hideouts in the forests using a motorcycle.
“Exhibits recovered from the suspect include one AK47 rifle, AK47 ammunition, one mobile phone, foodstuffs and an unregistered boxer Motorcycle.”
It further disclosed that investigations are being intensified to identify and cutoff the criminal supply chain and arrest other members of the gang.
The command also arrested twelve criminal suspects for various crimes including illegal possession of firearms, illegal fabrication and production of small arms and light weapons, armed robbery, amongst other crimes.
The suspects; Daniel Williams “M,” 51 yrs, Mohammed Yusuf “M,” 41 yrs, Abdulrasheed Abdullahi “M,” 26 yrs and Aminu Mohammed “M,” 41 yrs were intercepted and arrested in Zuba area of the FCT by operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau.
The FCT has continued to witness near-bi-weekly kidnappings for ransom especially in the satellite towns.
The Abuja Inquirer
Short URL: https://newsrangers.com/?p=109611
Posted by News Rangers
on Jun 12 2023. Filed under International, National.
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