CRIMINAL INCIDENTS IN LAGOS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000545

SIPDIS

DS/DSS/ITA, DS/IP/AF, AF/W

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2014
TAGS: ASEC NI
SUBJECT: CRIMINAL INCIDENTS IN LAGOS

REF: A. A. LAGOS 334


B. B. LAGOS 360

C. C. LAGOS 375

D. D. LAGOS 389

E. E. LAGOS 443

Classified By: Consul General Robyn Hinson-Jones. Reason 1.5 d and g.




1. (C) Summary: During February, there was a marked
increase in reported incidents in the Lagos Consular
district. RSO statistics for February indicate an increase
in overall crime in Lagos from January. The significance of
the incidents involving AMCITS is that there have not been
any for a considerable period of time. RSO believes it is
too early to tell whether the increase of incidents is
directed against the population in general or foreigners in
particular. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Reftels outline the incidents involving AMCITS
during February 2004. The incidents range from errors in
judgment on the part of the victim to outright criminal acts
carried out by police and criminal elements. Until February,
it was common for Consulate to be stopped by police and asked
for a "dash", but rarely ordered to go to a police station.
The only incident involving an American Consulate staff
member being taken to a police station last year was the
result of the American not having his Consulate
Identification, and no radio or cell phone with him when he
was detained by a policeman on a local beach known to be a
high crime area. Otherwise, Consulate staff and American
School teachers have not been regularly victimized in
criminal incidents.


3. (C) RSO maintains criminal statistics gleaned from
monitoring police radio frequencies. Statistics indicate
general criminal activities for February 2004 in line with or
less than February 2003. However, there is an increase in
crime from January 2004 to February 2004. A sampling of the
crime statistics including the first eleven days of March
2004 is noted below:

Month/Year Carjacking Murder Home Invasion Missing Persons
Police shot/killed

Jan/2003 107 9 45 14
2
Feb/2003 47 39 63 10
3
Mar/2003 49 8 72 1
6

Jan/2004 28 4 22 2
0
Feb/2004 44 10 30 14
4
Mar/2004 21 3 16 2
2

These statistics represent general trends in crime against
the general population in Lagos.


4. (C) Post officials have been in contact with Lagos State
Government officials, British, Dutch, Russian, and French
diplomats as well as business contacts through OSAC.
Criminal acts have increased against the foreign community as
a whole. For example, a security officer from an
international organization was advised that he violated a
traffic law and the policeman entered his vehicle. When the
security officer advised the policeman that he had to notify
his staff, the policeman excused himself for the
misunderstanding. A Russian diplomat's car was shot at by
thieves who were in the process of robbing two buses. Two
Russian females were injured. A British national returning
from Benin was stopped on the Badagery Road twice by illegal
roadblocks and relieved of cash. At the most recent OSAC
executive board meeting, OSAC officers were advised that
since February first eight robberies by a gang using commando
tactics has robbed companies along the river in Warri. Shell
has been robbed twice, the second time with resulting deaths.
A South African father and his daughter were robbed by two
Nigerian men wielding machetes. In Port Harcourt, there has
been an upsurge in thefts of Toyota crew cab pickup trrucks.
Last year there was a spate of carjackings involving Toyota
crew cabs and until February there had been a lull in thefts.
Toyota pickup engines are reportedly used for repairing
generators. Incidents involving Americans have been reported
reftels.


5. (SBU) More disturbing than attacks against foreign
nationals are the number of attacks against Nigerian
officials. These attacks have been against political figures
and other senior government officials. Most, if not all, of
these officials have been escorted by protective details.
Press reports advised the President has decried the increase
in criminal incidents and directed the police to take action.


6. (C) Post believes it is too early to determine whether
these incidents indicate a sharp rise in crime that will
continue or a spike in crime that will subside in the coming
months. Last year in the same period, many of the "area
boys" and others involved in current criminal activities were
occupied with elections as members of politicians' armed
entourages. Most were armed by the politicians and were not
disarmed at the conclusion of elections.


7. (SBU) Post held a town meeting on February 27th and RSO
has sent out security tips to Mission community, OSAC
members, and diplomatic Crisis Cooperation group. The
Consular Section has included these tips in the most recent
Wardens' message. RSO has met with the Commissioner of Lagos
State Police and the Deputy Commissioner for Operations to
express his concern over the incidents involving AMCITS.
Post continues to monitor these criminal incidents.
HINSON-JONES