 |
Read what Vanguard wrote;
(AFP) – US diplomats in Nigeria on
Friday claimed that “groups associated with terrorism” could be planning to
attack a hotel in the financial capital, Lagos, in a travel note to citizens
warning of security risks.
“As of late April, groups associated
with terrorism allegedly planned to mount an unspecified attack against the
Sheraton Hotel in Nigeria, near the city of Lagos,” the US Consulate General in
Lagos said in an emailed advisory.
“There was no further information
regarding which of the two Sheraton Hotels in Lagos was the possible target, or
if both of the Sheraton Hotels are possible targets
“There is no further information
regarding the timing or method of attack. US citizens are cautioned to avoid
these hotels at this time.”
The warning comes a day after a car
bomb exploded in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, killing 19 people and wounding scores
more, just yards (metres) from a bus station where a previous bombing on April
14 killed at least 75.
Boko Haram claimed the April 14
attack and both bombings have raised fears about a possible change in tactics
and targets by the Islamist militants, whose increasingly deadly, five-year
insurgency has largely been confined to the north.
Concern has mounted that the
violence could spread to other parts of the country given the military’s
apparent inability to stem the bloodshed.
A hotel attack by Islamist
extremists would not be unprecedented.
In November 2008, heavily armed
gunmen attacked three luxury hotels, a railway station, Jewish centre and
popular tourist cafe in the Indian city of Mumbai, killing 166 and wounding
more than 300.
Sheraton has two hotels in Lagos:
the Sheraton Hotel Lagos in the Ikeja area of the city near the international
airport and the Four Points by Sheraton.
The latter is situated on Victoria
Island off the expressway to Lekki, both of which are home to many wealthier
Nigerians and expatriates.
The US travel advisory said the
security situation in Nigeria remained “fluid and unpredictable”, warning its
citizens to stay away from all travel to Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states which
have borne the brunt of the violence.
All three are in northeast Nigeria
and have been under a state of emergency since May last year.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Have your say, post your comments»»»
For more updates»»»Mail us: 9jawedey@gmail.com