Nigeria Rescue Attempt Fails, Killing 2 Europeans: Who is to Blame?
A Nigeria rescue attempt failed after an English citizen and an Italian citizen were killed before their liberators could reach them.
Nigerian troops' rescue attempt was coupled with the efforts of British soldiers, which was unfortunately unsuccessful, according to U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron. Chris McManus of northwest England and Franco Lamolinara were "murdered by their captors before they could be rescued," in Sokoto, Nigeria.
The combined forces tried valiantly to liberate the two men from the Boko Haram kidnappers Thursday.
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U.K. troops were "first in," according to BBC's Gordon Corera, and Nigerian military troops used an armored personal carrier in the 9-hour mission.
After a brief "window of opportunity arose to secure their release," troops stormed in. "We had reason to believe their lives were under imminent and growing danger," stated Cameron.
They were too late.
In the wake of the "terrible ordeal," Prime Minister David Cameron and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan had to answer to those with grievances- particularly Italy, who remained uninformed about the mission until it was already taking place.
Friday Italian President Giorgio Napolitano chastised both countries for the "inexplicable" failure to communicate the decision before the rescue mission took place. Napolitano also wanted to know why deadly force was used instead of other means, according to The Washington Post.
Britain's Defense Secretary, Phillip Hammond, explained that the information U.K. intelligence received suggested that they would have little time to act, much less use diplomatic means to gain access to the hostages. "Huge risks" were taken to "[save] their lives."
"They were about to be moved, possibly executed and therefore the decision was to go in, aware of course that there were huge risks," Hammond told BBC. "The decision was made that the best chance of saving their lives was to act."
The kidnappers, who alleged ties to al-Qaida, were arrested at the gruesome scene of the execution. Jonathan confirmed that they were indeed tied to Boko Haram, and that they "would be made to face the full wrath of the law."
McManus and Lamolinara were kidnapped in Birnin Kebbi city May 12, 2011.
