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"Our people's blood is spilled on foreign soil. Not only because of the actions of criminals, but by the indifference of those pledged to stop them. Victory at the expense of the innocent is no victory at all."
T'Chaka[src]

The Attack on the IFID Headquarters, also known as the Lagos Catastrophe[3] or the Attack in Lagos[1], was an Avengers operation in Lagos, Nigeria to apprehend ex-HYDRA agent Brock Rumlow, who attacked the IFID headquarters in order to steal a biological weapon.

The mission, which escalated into an open confrontation on the streets, went catastrophic when Rumlow attempted to kill Captain America in a suicide bombing at a populated market. Wanda Maximoff, wanting to save Rogers and the civilians in the market, contained the explosion and redirected it upwards near a building, accidentally causing the deaths of twenty-six civilians. With the Avengers being held responsible for this loss of life, the United Nations officially ratified the Sokovia Accords.

Background[]

"What we've got here is some hard intel on an ex-HYDRA operative working his way toward Lagos, Nigeria."
Sam Wilson to Steve Rogers[src]

During the Battle at the Triskelion in 2014, HYDRA operative Brock Rumlow was pinned under rubble when a Helicarrier crashed into the building. He survived but gained severe facial scars and was subsequently hospitalized.[4]

Romlow Burned2

Brock Rumlow recovered from the Triskelion

Several months later, after watching a news report about the death of Alexander Pierce, he assaulted his nurse and successfully escaped from the hospital where he was staying.

Recovering items from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s research and development labs, Rumlow set up an arms sale in an attempt to draw HYDRA out of hiding. Upon learning of their arrival, Rumlow opened fire on them as a way of telling their superiors he was no longer a member of HYDRA. Taking up the alias "Crossbones," Rumlow went on the run and subsequently aligned himself with a faction of foreign mercenaries, unaware that Captain America and the Avengers were trying to track him down.[5]

Attack[]

Captain America Civil War 87

Falcon looking out on Lagos

"There you are, you son of a bitch. I've been waiting for this!"
Crossbones to Captain America[src]

Seeking to draw out the Avengers, Crossbones traveled to Nigeria and planned to steal a biological weapon from the Institute for Infectious Diseases in Lagos. Captain America, however, uncovered Crossbones' plan and informed the other Avengers.

Crossbones-IFIDAttack

Crossbones infiltrates the IFID building

Upon arriving in Lagos, Wanda Maximoff and Black Widow went undercover at a local cafe while Falcon positioned himself on a rooftop to overlook the city. Noticing a truck suspiciously, Falcon deployed the Redwing only to realize that it was a battering ram, heading towards the IFID. By then, however, the truck had driven through the entrance and Crossbones' mercenaries started firing at several security guards stationed outside. As poisonous gas flooded the complex, Crossbones quietly made his way to the third floor and found the bioweapon he was looking for.

Converging on the building, the Avengers took down several of the mercenaries while Falcon used the Redwing to find Crossbones before informing Captain America. After using her powers to lift Captain America onto the third floor, Maximoff focused on venting the gas out into the open air while the others dealt with the remaining mercenaries.

Captain America Civil War 75

Captain America is shot at by Crossbones

Captain America searched for Crossbones only to discover that he had left the building. Black Widow intercepted and tried to electrocute Crossbones only to learn he could no longer feel any pain. He then threw a grenade at her, but she used a dead mercenary's corpse to shield herself from the blast. Crossbones escaped, but not before entrusting the bioweapon to one of his men. While Falcon, Maximoff, and Black Widow set out to find the other mercenaries and retrieve the bioweapon, Captain America confronted the former STRIKE commander, who blamed him for his injuries.

CaptainAmerica v

Captain America fights against Crossbones

Meanwhile, Black Widow located the mercenaries tasked with maintaining the bioweapon and confronted them. When they threatened to kill everyone in the surrounding area unless she surrendered, she reluctantly complied. At the last minute, however, Redwing subdued them and allowed Black Widow to secure the bioweapon. Captain America managed to subdue Crossbones and began interrogating him for the identity of the person who ordered him to obtain the bioweapon. Crossbones then mentioned Bucky Barnes, distracting Captain America while activating a suicide bomb attached to his vest, intent on taking Captain America with him.

Scarlet Witch Wanda-Civil War 9

Wanda Maximoff containing the explosion around Crossbones

Just then, Maximoff intervened and contained the explosion around Crossbones, which she then attempted to move away from innocent bystanders. However, she moved it too close to a nearby building and inadvertently destroyed it with the blast, killing twenty-six people, eleven of whom were relief aid workers from the African nation of Wakanda. Captain America immediately observed the explosion from the building and called fire and rescue onto the scene.[2]

Aftermath[]

Sokovia Accords[]

WHIH-PresidentEllis-AttackLagos

President Matthew Ellis on the aftermath

"They are operating outside and above the international law. Because that's the reality, if we don't respond to acts like these. What legal authority does an enhanced individual like Wanda Maximoff have to operate in Nigeria?"
―Reporter[src]

With public opinion increasingly divided following the Battle of Sokovia, the destruction in Lagos was deemed a public relations disaster. Several international politicians, including Wakanda's ruler King T'Chaka, called for the United Nations to create a system of accountability.[2] President Matthew Ellis held a press conference where he pledged his support towards apprehending the people responsible.[1]

TRossBriefingTheAvengers6

Thaddeus Ross discussing the disaster

Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross brought the Avengers together and informed them that the United Nations was in the process of passing the Sokovia Accords, which would serve to monitor and police the increasing number of enhanced individuals.

The team became divided over the idea of oversight, with Captain America vehemently opposing it due to his mistrust of government agencies and Iron Man supporting it due to his guilt over the destruction of Sokovia.

Despite this, the United Nations arranged a formal ceremony at the Vienna International Centre in Austria. Among those in attendance were Black Widow, King T'Chaka, and his son Crown Prince T'Challa. As King T'Chaka made the keynote address, a bomb detonated and resulted in the deaths of T'Chaka and several delegates.

ZemoWinterSoldier-Disguise

Helmut Zemo frames the Winter Soldier

When security footage revealed that the Winter Soldier was responsible, Captain America, T'Challa, and the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre set out to find him. This resulted in a manhunt across Bucharest that ultimately started the Avengers Civil War.[2]

Post-Battle Clean-Up[]

"I got the gauntlet from the Lagos cleanup. The rest is my design."
Tinkerer[src]

Crossbones' gauntlet, which Captain America had discarded on the ground, was eventually recovered by Adrian Toomes' Crew, with Tinkerer turning it into Shocker's Gauntlet.[6]

Appearances[]

In chronological order:

References[]

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