The United States Embassy in Nigeria has warned its citizens against
visiting its consulate office at Walter Carrington Crescent in Victoria
Island, Lagos over a planned protest against the killing of George
Floyd. Floyd, an African-American man, was killed
on Monday by a Minneapolis police officer. Video
clips of the incident on the internet showed where a white police
officer was kneeling on his neck for nearly 10 minutes.
The incident sparked off protests, some of which led to looting and
vandalism of shops, across the US. As a result of this, the US
government imposed a curfew on over 25 states in the country.
The US authorities also announced investigations into the death of the
deceased and that four police officers involved in the incident have
been sacked.
Some Nigerians, on Tuesday, protested against the murder of Floyd at the
US embassy in Abuja, calling for an end to racial discrimination and
injustice.
In an alert published on its website, the US embassy advised its
citizens to be aware of their surroundings and avoid areas surrounding
the US consulate office building.
“The U.S. Consulate General in Lagos has received reports that
demonstrators plan to gather in front of the Consulate on Wednesday,
June 03, 2020 to protest current events in the United States,” the alert
read.
“Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.
“Avoid the areas of Walter Carrington Crescent, the U.S. Consulate
General office building, and surrounding areas. Avoid demonstrations
and large crowds.
“Be aware of your surroundings. Monitor local media for updates. Carry
proper identification, including a U.S. passport with a current Nigerian
visa. Review your personal security plans. Wear a mask when in public
spaces to protect yourself and others from the spread of the COVID-19
virus.”
