The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned on Monday the recent series of terrorist attacks in Nigeria that left 178 people dead.
The death toll from coordinated attacks by a radical Islamist group in Nigeria’s northern city of Kano may increase further, Reuters reported. The attacks, carried out by the Boko Haram sect late last week, targeted several police stations, barracks and immigration offices.
“Russia condemns the terrorist crimes, expresses solidarity with the people and authorities of friendly Nigeria and sincerely empathizes with the relatives and friends of the victims,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry also said that the Russian Embassy in Nigeria is maintaining close contacts with all Russians residing in Kano.
“According to information from the embassy, none of our [Russian] compatriots are among the victims,” the statement said.
A 24-hour curfew was declared on Saturday in Kano where search and rescue operations are underway. Nigeria also closed its borders with neighboring Cameroon and Niger claiming that these countries allowed the militants to move freely into Nigeria.
Boko Haram, known for its ties with al-Qaeda, has been seeking to impose Sharia law across Nigeria with its predominantly Christian south and largely Muslim north.
