A fire outbreak has occurred at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, Nigeria, on Monday morning, according to local media reports. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but eyewitnesses said they saw smoke billowing from the building around 9 a.m. local time.
The fire service was alerted and arrived at the scene shortly after. They were able to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the compound. No casualties have been reported so far, and the extent of the damage is yet to be assessed.
Just last week the US embassy in Nigeria had issued a security alert for its citizens and other foreigners living or traveling in the country. The alert warns of possible attacks on hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and other places frequented by expatriates and tourists in Abuja, Lagos, and other major cities.
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According to the alert, the attacks could be carried out by terrorist groups or criminal elements seeking to kidnap or extort money from their victims. The embassy advises US citizens to exercise caution, avoid crowds, monitor local media, and review their personal security plans.
The alert comes amid rising insecurity in Nigeria, where armed groups have been launching attacks on schools, villages, military bases, and oil facilities. The government has been struggling to contain the violence, which has displaced millions of people and killed thousands.
One of the main sources of insecurity in Nigeria is the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has been waging a brutal insurgency in the northeast of the country since 2009. Boko Haram aims to establish an Islamic state based on a strict interpretation of Sharia law and opposes Western education and influence.
The group has carried out numerous attacks on civilians and security forces, including suicide bombings, mass kidnappings, and raids on towns and villages. Boko Haram has also expanded its operations to neighboring countries such as Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, where it has clashed with regional forces.
The US has been providing assistance to Nigeria in its fight against terrorism, especially against the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. The US also supports the Multinational Joint Task Force, a regional coalition of countries that are combating Boko Haram and its splinter factions.
The US embassy in Nigeria urges its citizens to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which allows them to receive updates on security information and contact the embassy in case of emergency. The embassy also provides a list of emergency numbers and resources for US citizens in Nigeria on its website.
The Canadian High Commission in Abuja is the diplomatic mission of Canada to Nigeria. It also serves as the regional hub for Canadian development, trade and political activities in West Africa. The High Commission offers consular services to Canadian citizens and visa services to Nigerians and other nationals who wish to travel to Canada.
The High Commission has not issued any official statement on the incident as of the time of writing this post. We will update this post as more information becomes available.