Two staff of the United States consulate in Nigeria have been shot dead and their bodies set ablaze by gunmen in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The US consulate staff were in the area for a humanitarian work when they were attacked by the assailants who also k!lled two police mobile force operatives on Tuesday.
The spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement.
‘’The Joint Security Forces have embarked on a rescue/recovery operation in Ogbaru LGA, following an attack on a convoy of staff of U S Consulate today 16/5/2023 by 3:30 pm along Atani, Osamale road.
“The hoodlums murdered two of the PMF operatives, and two staff of the Consulate, and set their bodies ablaze and their vehicles.
“Also, the arsonist/murderers on sighting the responding joint security forces abducted two police operatives, the driver of the second vehicle and took to their heels. No U S citizen was in the convoy.
“The Command, while reacting to the situation regrets that a convoy of such or any related will enter the state without recourse to the police in the area or any security agency, assured that the battle against the insurgents in the State is focused and it will remain sustained until such a time security stability is fully restored.”
Meanwhile, the White House has confirmed the fatal attack on the United States Embassy convoy in Anambra State, but said none of its citizens were involved.
When asked about the attack in a press briefing, National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, said, “I just got informed about a whole lot before coming out here to talk to you all. It does look like a US convoy vehicle was attacked.
“What I can tell you is that no US citizens were involved and therefore there were no US citizens hurt.
“But we are aware of some casualties, perhaps even some killed, but I don’t want to get too far ahead of where we are right now.”
