LAGOS EAC MEETING ON INCREASED CRIME IN LAGOS AND

UNCLAS LAGOS 001642

SIPDIS

DS/IP/AF, AF/EX, DS/IP/OPO, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/ITA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PTER CASC NI
SUBJECT: LAGOS EAC MEETING ON INCREASED CRIME IN LAGOS AND
SECURITY IN THE NIGER-DELTA 10/17/05


1. (U) Lagos EAC convened October 17 to review Post's
security posture in response to what appears to be a marked
increase in violent crime in Lagos, and to discuss
appropriate precautions against such crime. NOTE: In the past
few months armed bank robberies, prison riots, attacks on
expatriates, and smash and grab car robberies have been
reported on Victoria and Ikoyi island. A recent clash between
police and army soldiers in a working class section of Lagos
left several persons dead, others injured and resulted in
significant property damage. The Niger-Delta region remains
tense in light of the arrest of a prominent governor in
London for money laundering, and the arrest of a local
militant leader for treason. Ikoyi and Victoria islands are
home to the American International School, the US Consulate
General, and all US Consulate employees. In attendance were
the CG, RSO, RAO, MGT, POL/ECON, DAO, DEA, FCS, MED, and FBI.


2. (SBU) Based on a consensus of the EAC, POST will
implement the following:

-RSO will limit visits to the Niger-Delta (Delta, Bayelsa,
Rivers) region by Consulate Employees to 2-3 days. Visits to
the area should be limited to important official business
only and only for the minimum time needed to transact that
business

-RSO will require travelers to use armed REACT escort when
driving to the outlying Lagos suburb of Lekki after dark
where many expatriates have been robbed.

-RSO will conduct a briefing of Consulate USDH employees on
security precautions in Lagos for private drivers and USDH
Consulate personnel.

-RSO will fine-tune guard force officers at residential
compounds to positively identify visitors before opening
gates.

-Section heads will encourage full participation in weekly
radio checks.

-Draft a collective letter from various Embassies/Consulates
to the Nigerian Government/Assistant Inspector General
requesting increased police presence in our areas.

-Explore the possibility of a centralized emergency response
command center (possibly using the Local guard) for
residential alarms.

-Section heads will insure that all TDY visitors be scheduled
for a security brief upon arrival in Lagos.


4. (U) RSO COMMENT: The recent spike in crime is attributed
to the beginning of the holiday season as well as to a
sluggish local economy characterized by high unemployment and
growing food and fuel prices.


6. (U) The core EAC agreed that post's security posture was
adequate pending new information and agreed to meet again as
circumstances dictate.


7. (U) The point of contact in this matter is RSO/acting Rod
Collins at (office) 234-1-261-1303.



BROWNE