US embassy cable - 05ABUJA2295

UNCLAS ABUJA 002295 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/FPO - LEWIS, DS/IP/AF - FREDERICKS, 
AF/EX, AF/W, DS/ICI/PII 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC, NI, CRIME 
SUBJECT: SHOOT OUT NEXT DOOR TO A USG RESIDENTIAL 
COMPOUND 
 
REF: ABUJA 2256 
 
1.   On November 22, 2005 between 2020 and 2230 hours 
    the local police engaged five carjackers that were 
    pursued to a house locate directly next door to a USG 
    housing compound.  Embassy local guards and attached 
    Nigerian police assisted authorities with the loaning 
    of their post procured ten million candlelight flood 
    lights which permitted the police to engage the 
    carjackers wounding four.  One policeman was shot and 
    wounded.  There were no injuries to USG occupants, nor 
    was there any collateral damage to the USG housing 
    compound.  The police permitted RSO Abuja to photograph 
    the scene and the carjackers. 
 
2.   Due to the spike in crime that took place a week 
    ago as mentioned in reftel, a guard reaction vehicle 
    was parked in the immediate vicinity and was one of the 
    reasons why the carjackers failed to escape, or to seek 
    refuge at a USG compound. 
 
3.   By all accounts the police fired over one-hundred 
    rounds of AK-47 munitions and launched at least a dozen 
    tear gas rounds into the vacant house.  RSO Abuja is 
    very pleased that the police actions resulted in the 
    apprehension of five carjackers who were later 
    identified to be armed robbers.  The District Police 
    Officer in charge was interviewed on November 23, 2005 
    and he reported the carjackers were heading to a local 
    fish bar in Maitama to rob it and steal the owner's 
    vehicle.  The police source stated that the lead 
    carjacker and his captured gang of thieves were 
    responsible for seven previous armed robberies in the 
    area. 
 
4.   RSO Abuja believes that based on the information 
    obtained from the police the small crime wave in our 
    neighborhoods may diminish with the recent 
    apprehensions of the carjackers. 
 
 
5.   The POC for this cable is ARSO Rich Verrier. 
CDA Furey