US embassy cable - 01ABUJA2617

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002617 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NOFORN 
 
 
DEPT FOR DS/OP/AF, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/PSP/FPD 
LAGOS FOR RSO 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/11 
TAGS: ASEC, PTER, NI 
SUBJECT: TFUS3: PETROL BOMB AT KANO BRITISH COUNCIL 
 
REF: A. ABUJA 2508 B. ABUJA 2478 
 
 
Classified by Ambassador Howard F. Jeter: Reasons 1.5 (b) and 
(d). 
 
 
1. (U) On 15 October 2001, Embassy Abuja received information 
from a reliable source that the British Council in Kano had 
been the target of a petrol bomb during the early morning 
hours. 
 
 
2. (C/NF) RSO met British High Commission Security Officer, 
Keith Rowland, who offered the following details: 
 
 
-- Despite a GON imposed dusk to dawn curfew, approximately a 
few minutes after midnight an unspecified number of petrol 
bombs were thrown over the rear perimeter wall of the British 
Council in Kano; 
 
 
-- The petrol bombs landed in an open area of the Council's 
grounds and were quickly extinguished by local guard force 
personnel; 
 
 
-- There were no injuries or damage to property; 
 
 
-- The British Council has increased its security posture in 
Kano, and local police are investigating the attack; 
 
 
-- At this time, there have been no claims of responsibility 
or arrests by the GON. 
 
 
3. (C/NF) This is the first and only incident in Nigeria 
targeting an allied forces Mission of which we are aware. We 
have no reason to view it as other than an isolated incident. 
Our British colleagues do not view this incident as a 
precursor to more serious threats. Embassy Abuja had 
previously identified Kano as a potential hotspot (Ref B). 
The USG does not have any direct-hire personnel located in 
Kano, and the attack does not trigger further action based on 
established trip wires (Ref A). American citizens in Kano 
report that they are alert and practicing situational 
awareness while going about their business. Kano is located 
in northern Nigeria and is a five hour drive from Abuja and 
thirteen hours from Lagos. The nearest Operation Focus Relief 
(OFR) forces are in Birnin-Kebbi, about six hours away. 
 
 
4. (C/NF) RSO and Post management agree that the situation 
bears close monitoring. An EAC meeting will soon be convened 
to discuss the attack's implications on Abuja, if any. The 
security posture at all USG installations in Abuja remains at 
the highest levels. 
Jeter