The British Foreign Office said it is “urgently investigating” reports that a British national was among the victims killed by JAMBS. An online newspaper, Daily Record, quoted a Foreign Office spokesman as saying, “We are aware of reports of the death of a British national in Nigeria and are urgently investigating. We urge the media not to speculate at this extremely sensitive time.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Government on Saturday failed to respond officially to the killing of the seven hostages by JAMBS.
As at the time of filing this report, the government had not issued any statement.
Efforts by one of our correspondents to speak with the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, did not yield any result as all his telephone lines were switched off.
Our correspondent also sent an electronic mail to him seeking the government’s comment on the issue, no reply was received at press time.
The telephone line of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, also indicated that it was switched off when SUNDAY PUNCH tried to reach him.
Calls made to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbega Ashiru, indicated that his mobile telephone was switched off.
However, spokesperson of the ministry, Mr. Ogbole Ahmedu-Ode, said he had no information on the issue, adding that “the security of Nigeria is within the purview of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.”
“Although there could be an international dimension, to the extent that foreign nationals may be involved, we are not able to comment at this point because we have no information,” he added.
Neither the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Pocock, nor the Spokesperson of the Commission, Mr. Robert Fitzpatrick, could be reached for comments as at the time of filing this report.
When one of our correspondents visited the envoy’s official residence located in Maitama District, private security guards did not permit entry as they noted that entry was purely on appointments.
When contacted, an employee of the Italian Embassy who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said, “Only the ambassador can comment on such issues and he is not answering any phone calls now. You can call back on Monday, I will put you through to him.”
Calls and text messages sent to the Embassy of the Philippines were also not responded to. The mobile telephone of the Information Officer of the Embassy, Hajja Najifa, rang out several times. She also did not respond to a text message sent to her mobile line.
At the Lebanese Embassy located at Number 48, Lake Chad Crescent, Maitama, our correspondent met a Lebanese national who refused to give his name.
“We don’t work on Saturdays, you can come back on Monday,” he said.
Also, British, Greek, Italian and Philippine embassies, did not react to the reported killings.
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