US embassy cable - 04LAGOS545

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