The Deputy Public Affairs Officer of the United States Consulate, Lagos, Frank Sellin, has reiterated the commitment of the US government to work with Nigeria to combat terrorism and assist internally displaced persons (IDPs) rebuild their lives.
He spoke at the commemoration of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the US held at the multipurpose hall of the Consulate’s Victoria Island Office, Lagos, yesterday.
Sellin said: “America remains committed to working closely with Nigeria and its neighbours to degrade and defeat Boko Haram; and as we remember America’s 9/11 families, we also remember Nigeria’s survivors. Ambassador James Entwistle has made it clear that the US will continue to work closely with the Nigerian government to assist internally displaced persons rebuild their lives.”
He urged Nigerians to unite and boldly challenge any threat to their collective peaceful coexistence.
Among the four aircraft hijacked by terrorists during the attacks, United Airlines Flight 93 stood out as the only airplane that did not crash into any building, nor hurt anyone on the ground, hence failing to reach its hijackers’ suspected target.
Instead, it crashed into a field near the Diamond T. Mine in Pennsylvania and everyone on board died.
Sellin said records of telephone calls made by passengers on the flight, as well as analysis of the flight recorders revealed that its passengers had tried to regain control of the aircraft, which deterred the terrorists’ intent.
“Untrained and unarmed passengers did not sit cow. They acted. They teamed together and confronted the terrorists. Good, innocent, ordinary people took on the greatest risk any of us could face,” he said.