Suspicious Object Causes Panic at Lagos US Consulate

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A suspicious object caused panic at the United States Consulate in Lagos Thursday forcing workers to disperse hurriedly just as the embassy promptly issued a fresh travel warning to its citizens on its website.

The consulate staff that normally closed duty by 4.pm had to leave the premises of the foreign mission as early as 2.pm leaving only few essential workers behind.

“A suspicious package was found at the US Consulate in Lagos. We are working with the Nigerian authorities and security agencies concerning the matter,” Miss. Omotunde Ajoke, an information specialist at the Public Affairs Section of the consulate said.

According to her, the object was discovered around 2.pm and transferred to local security officials for investigation.
A more detailed warning on the embassy’s website reminded Americans of the continued threat to terrorist attacks but failed to mention the suspicious object found at the consulate.

It mentioned the upcoming 52nd Independence anniversary and the recent anti-American demonstrations sparked by a US anti-Islam movie and warned the citizens to consider their personal security in the forefront of their planning.

The statement did not clearly state if the embassy anticipates a terror attack on the occasion of the celebration of Nigeria’s 52nd Independence anniversary.

The advice said the US Mission in Nigeria currently has no new threats or information regarding new demonstration or attacks directed at US facilities in Abuja or Lagos but stated that demonstrations and riots can occur with little or no warning.