…Ambassador confirms same***
Following a video circulating on social media, the Federal government has debunked the attack on the Nigerian Embassy in Cotonu, Benin Republic.
Mr Ferdinand Nwonye, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja,
“The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to a video circulating on the social media purportedly showing an attack on the Embassy of Nigeria in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
“The ministry wishes to inform that the video is an old video of an attack on Nigerian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal and the incident under reference occurred on the 4th of March, 2013.
“The ministry also wishes to state that the ring leaders of the unwarranted attack in Dakar were arrested by Senegalese authorities and jailed for six months.
“The general public should, therefore, disregard the fake news being spread by mischief makers to whip up sentiments and cause unnecessary tension in Nigeria/Benin relations,” Nwonye stated.
The fake video
Corroborating the position, Amb Kayode Oguntuase, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Republic of Benin has also said that Nigeria’s embassy in that country was never attacked.
Oguntuase debunked the rumours in a statement made available on Sunday.
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“My office has been inundated with telephone calls regarding an attack on Nigerian embassy in Cotonou.
“There have been insinuations arising from a video clip now in circulation, claiming that the embassy was attacked by hoodlums,’’ he said.
The ambassador described the video clip as false and fake, saying, “the embassy is not under any form of attack’’.
He also stated that Nigeria’s embassy and its diplomatic personnel were safe and free from any form of danger.
“The Embassy wishes to state that this news is fake; the embassy of Nigeria in Cotonou was never attacked and the embassy is not under any form of attack.
“The Embassy premises and its personnel are currently safe, well protected and free from any form of threat or danger,’’ Oguntuase said.