No Nigerian casualty in Nairobi mall attack – High Commissioner

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Akin Oyataru, said on Wednesday that there were no Nigerian casualties in the attack at the Nairobi city mall, which claimed the lives of at least 72 people.
Addressing journalists in Abuja via a video-conference from the Nigeria mission in Nairobi, Oyetaru condemned the terrorist attack that injured more than 200 people.
He said: “I can confirm to you that we are all safe and fine in Nairobi and its environs and fortunately no Nigerian national was affected by this.
“But our heart goes to the families of those who are bereaved and to the injured, whom we wish a very quick recovery.
“Ever since then, we have advised the Nigerian community all through the crisis and after for them to take caution and safety measures.”
Oyataru reiterated Nigeria’s solidarity with Kenya in the aftermath of the attack at Nairobi’s renowned Westgate shopping mall, for which the terrorist organisation, Al-Shabab, had claimed responsibility.
The group reportedly said the attack was to avenge Kenya’s military intervention in southern Somalia in October 2011 against the militant group.
The envoy said Nigeria, which has a police contingent in Somalia under an AU and UN-backed peacekeeping mission, would not withdraw its troops from the war-torn country.
Oyatari said: “Neither the Kenyan Government nor the Nigerian Government nor any government for that matter should succumb to the intimidation or blackmail from these people.
“These are people perpetrating a lot of mindless and needless deaths of innocent citizens.
“They are just people feeding on the orgy of violence and this should be condemned by all peace-loving people.”
He added that the attack by Al-shabab was an “international crime” that needed joint collaboration and cooperation between all nations.
Oyataru, therefore, called on the international community to “reinforce and strengthen the options and mechanism available to confront terrorism.”
The high commissioner also told reporters that the Nigerian mission in Nairobi had offered “a modest sum of money” to the victims of the attack.
“I have personally donated blood this afternoon and I encourage other Nigerians in Kenya to do the same and encourage the Nigerian community to contribute to the relief fund,” he said.
Some 2,500 Nigerians are currently residing in Kenya, the high commissioner said.