Nigeria Condoles With Russia Over Deadly Moscow Concert Attack

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria has expressed sympathy with the Russian Federation following Friday’s deadly attack on a Moscow concert venue.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Yusuf Tuggar, in a statement, commiserated with the Russian Federation over the tragic attack said to have killed over 130 people in a concert in Moscow.

According to media reports, the Islamic State terrorist group, ISIS, claimed responsibility for the attack late Friday. The group has long called for attacks on Moscow due to its history of violent wars in Afghanistan and the Muslim-majority region of Chechnya.

Reports say that no fewer than five gunmen clad in camouflage carrying automatic weapons burst into the packed concert hall in the Russian capital’s western suburbs on Friday night.

The audience was gathering to watch the veteran rock band picnic. They shot into the crowd and set off explosives that started a massive fire.

“We convey our deepest condolences to the people and Government of the Russian Federation on the tragic attack carried out at the Crocus Concert Hall in Moscow.

“The attack resulted in the death of innocent people and injuries to more than a hundred others.

“We also pray for the quick recovery of those injured. At this challenging time, we stand in brotherhood with the government and the Russian Federation.

“We send our deepest sympathy and condolences to the Russian President, Vladimir Putin,” Mr Tuggar said.

Meanwhile, eleven people, including the four gunmen who opened fire at the concertgoers, have been detained so far in connection with the attack, President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday night.

The deadly attack comes less than a week after Mr Putin claimed victory in a landslide election that will see him start a fifth term in power and tighten his grip on power.

Just three days ago, he dismissed warnings from several Western countries about the possibility of a terrorist attack in Russia as “outright blackmail” to “intimidate and destabilize our society.”

Public events planned over the weekend have been cancelled across much of Russia, while shopping malls in Moscow and St. Petersburg have been shut down, and security ramped up at airports and train stations.