Canada is conducting research into an explosion at its embassy in Nigeria that killed two people, according to Foreign Minister Melanie Joly on Monday, November 6, as Ottawa joined Washington and London in issuing a warning against unnecessary travel to the West African nation.
“We can prove that there was an explosion at our High Commission in Nigeria. The fire is presently out and officials are working hard to shed light on what led to this situation.” Joly had posted on X.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the 2 persons killed in the unfortunate incident.” she said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian President’s spokesperson has said that deaths and injuries had been recorded during the fire incident on Monday, November 6, at the High Commission of Canada but he had not give any figures.
“President Bola Tinubu prays for the repose of the departed souls and wishes all wounded persons a quick and full recovery.” the statement finished.
The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria, has meanwhile said that it had “provisionally suspended operations until further notice.”
The embassy issued a travel advisory, cautioning against superfluous travel to Nigeria, citing the unforeseeable security situation in the whole of the country as well as the significant risk of terrorism, crime, inter-communal clashes, armed attacks and kidnappings.
Recall that the United States and Britain had on Friday, November 3, announced that there was an “elevated threat to leading hotels in Nigeria’s larger cities” and warned against traveling to the most populous nation in Africa.