Tánaiste condemns Nigeria killings

Tánaiste condemns Nigeria killings

 The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Eamon Gilmore T.D., has unreservedly condemned the weekend  bombings in Kano, Nigeria’s second most populous city, which are now thought to have claimed in excess of 150 lives.  

The Tánaiste extended sympathies to the people of Nigeria and in particular to the families of those killed or injured in the attacks.  The Tánaiste described the attacks as “a heinous and cowardly act of mass murder”.

He stated that his Department is gravely concerned about the situation in Nigeria where the fundamentalist ‘Boko Haram’ group has escalated its campaign of violence in recent weeks. 

“The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has the support of the international community, including Ireland, in confronting terrorism and intolerance and in using all legal means to investigate these appalling crimes to bring those responsible to justice.” 

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade added that the Government’s travel advice for citizens in relation to Nigeria is being amended to reflect heightened risks in certain parts of the country.  (The travel advice is available on the Department’s website at www.dfa.ie).

23 January 2012