* Confirms temporary suspension of operations at High Commission
The government of Canada has ordered a probe into the explosion and resultant fire incident at its High Commission in Abuja.
Canada also joined the United States and the United Kingdom in issuing a warning against non-essential travel to Nigeria.
On Monday, the High Commission witnessed a fire outbreak that killed two persons and injured two others.
Shortly after the incident, the Canadian Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly, issued a terse statement on X, mourning the victims of the explosion.
“We can confirm there was an explosion at our High Commission in Nigeria. The fire is out and we are working to shed light on what caused this situation. I send my heartfelt condolences to the families of the 2 people killed in this tragedy,” she said.
We can confirm there was an explosion at our High Commission in Nigeria. The fire is out and we are working to shed light on what caused this situation.
I send my heartfelt condolences to the families of the 2 people killed in this tragedy.
Also, Canada’s High Commission in Nigeria said on social media that it had “temporarily suspended operations until further notice”.
However, the Commission was silent on Monday’s explosion, issuing a travel advisory and warning against non-essential travel to Nigeria, including the capital Abuja.
It blamed the decision on “the unpredictable security situation throughout the country and the significant risk of terrorism, crime, inter-communal clashes, armed attacks and kidnappings”.