- "The women in the village heard a noise, like the sky cracked open. He came down, then came fire. Even worse came later: the government attacked. No mercy in the villages. My parents tried to run..."
- ―Kahina Ziri[src]
The Massacre in Nairomi was the mass murder of a terrorist faction during a botched undercover CIA operation in Nairomi orchestrated by Anatoli Knyazev and his goons under the orders of Lex Luthor.
Background[]
- "Lex Luthor?
He also had private security contractors at the desert compound." - ―Lois Lane and Calvin Swanwick[src]
In the aftermath of Superman's debut, Lex Luthor began to develop an existential crisis in response to the alien hero, as Superman, having supposed godlike power, has the same problem of evil applicable to him. Thus, Luthor became determined to prove this to the world by doing everything he could to expose the godlike alien superhero as a fraud and subsequently destroy him.
In order to carry out the first step of his master plan, Luthor discovered the CIA's intention to have Jimmy Olsen infiltrate Nairomi's forces through Lois Lane's credentials. Using this knowledge, Luthor employed mercenary Anatoli Knyazev and his team of contractors, providing them with innovative alloy bullets and sending them to a war-torn Nairomi.[1]
Massacre[]
Lois Lane, seeking a story for the Daily Planet, traveled to Nairomi to interview the Nairomi terrorist Amajagh and his militia, including Anatoli Knyazev and his contractors sent by Lex Luthor. Lane was accompanied by Jimmy Olsen undercover as a photographer, whose camera concealed a tracking device. As Lane questioned Amajagh, Knyazev snatched the camera from Olsen, uncovering the tracker which blew its cover. Olsen quickly attempted to negotiate with Amajagh by claiming that Lane knew nothing about the device or her identity, only to be shot in the head by Amajagh in front of Lane.
Knyazev incinerates the terrorists' corpses.
Shortly afterward, Amajagh interrogated Lane, coming to the conclusion that she was not completely innocent regarding the CIA's involvement. At that, Knyazev saw Superman flying through the sky, which acted as an incentive for his contractors to gun down the terrorists; during the massacre, a stray bullet had inadvertently managed to hit Lane's notebook. Knyazev and his men then proceeded to gather the corpses of the terrorists and incinerate them with a flamethrower, in order to frame Superman for their murders, making it appear that the alien had mutilated the terrorists with his heat vision.
Hearing the gunshots, Amajagh attempted to use Lane as his hostage to ensure his safety. However, before he could harm her, Superman appeared, destroyed the missiles sent by the CIA, and blasted through the roof of the building, only for Amajagh to point his gun at Lane, threatening to shoot him if he took a step. Lane, however, nodded approvingly at Superman and slowly let go of the general's arm, before the Kryptonian responded by knocking Amajagh down before he could pull the trigger, sending him crashing violently through several walls.[1]
Aftermath[]
Controversy against Superman[]
- "The world has been so caught up with what Superman can do that no one asked what he should do. Let the record show that this committee holds him responsible."
- ―June Finch[src]
This incident sparked quite a bit of controversy around the world, with Senator June Finch and her committee responsible for studying Superman interviewing Nairomi citizen Kahina Ziri, an actress hired by Lex Luthor to testify against Superman for what happened in the Nairomi desert. Ziri claimed that the United States government could never force Superman to answer to them, as he apparently answers to no one, not even God.[1]
Lois Lane's Investigation[]
- "You said the ambush was arranged to frame Superman, but how did they know that he'd show up in the... in the middle of the desert. Thank you."
- ―Lois Lane to Calvin Swanwick[src]
Lane is informed by Swanwick about the origin of the bullet.
Lois Lane, overwhelmed by her experience in Nairomi, discovered the missing bullet in her notebook, so she sought the help of Pentagon weapons and ballistics expert Jenet Klyburn. Upon examination, Klyburn informed her that the bullet was innovative and composed of an unknown metal alloy. Lane subsequently took the bullet to Defense Secretary Calvin Swanwick, who reluctantly gave in to her requests. He revealed to her that they are a special prototype made by LexCorp Industries.[1]