October 11, 2001


PRESS   RELEASE


NIGERIANS IN U. S.  HOLD VIGIL IN MEMORY OF VICTIMS OF
SEPTEMBER 11, TERRORIST ATTACK


Nigerians gathered over the weekend in front of the Nigeria House in New York
for a       candle-lit prayer vigil in memory of the victims of the September
11 terrorist attacks in        New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C.

Some Americans also joined in the vigil organised by the New York-based
Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN), an umbrella
organization, comprising smaller Nigerian unions in the Tri-State area of New
York, New Jersey and Connecticut, the vigil and prayer session was held in
place of the annual Nigerian National Day parade scheduled for September 29,
2001.

In attendance at the event were representatives of the Permanent
Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, Ambassador Arthur Mbanefo
and the Consul-General of  Nigeria in               New York, Hon. Taofiq
Oseni.

Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Representative Mr. Austin P. E. Osio,
stressed the need to combat terrorism in all societies.

He condemned the attacks of September 11, describing them  as an abuse of
America's hospitality and of freedom.

"Terrorism knows no friends, Humanity must unite against evil", Mr. Osio
said.

He commended the efforts of the Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians
for promoting cross-cultural peace and understanding.

In his own address to the gathering, Mr. E. Ntekim, the Head of Chancery in
the Nigerian Consulate, who represented the Consul-General,  Hon. Oseni,
expressed Nigeria's sympathy to the families of the victims of the September
11 incident, as well as solidarity with the American Government in the fight
against forces of darkness.

He commended the conveners of the vigil and prayers for a job well done.

In his remark, the President of the Organization for the Advancement of
Nigerians,                        Mr. Solomon Adelaja, said that his
organization was moved to convene the prayer vigil, in place of the Nigerian
National Day parade, as a small measure of solidarity during this grieving
process.

"We join all well-meaning human beings in mourning the tremendous loss of
lives from this diabolic act", Mr. Adelaja said.

He extended the salutation of his organization to all emergency and rescue
workers who were working tirelessly in the recovery and rebuilding process.

Mr. Adelaja announced plans to create an endowment fund at a later date to
assist the families of Nigerian victims of the terror in New York.

The prayer vigil was opened with a rendition of the National  Anthems of
Nigeria and the United States by the participants, who cut across all
religious and political persuasions.

The participants carried placards with the inscriptions:  "Stop Terrorism,"
"Nigerians Against Terrorism," "Islam Does Not Teach Terrorism," "New York
Will Rise Again,"  "Thank You, New York Bravest," and "May Their Souls Rest
in Peace," among others.


CGNNY

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