Gunmen, Tuesday night, attacked and killed four officials of the United States Embassy in Nigeria on a humanitarian mission in Anambra state.
Blueprint gathered that other officials of the embassy escaped from the scene of the incident which occurred in Amiyi/Eke Ochuche communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state with varying degrees of injuries.
It is unclear if the officials were targeted, however, eye witness accounts said they were ambushed and summarily executed.
According to the eye witnesses, the attack caused panic among members of the community who had gathered and were waiting to receive medical treatment from the UNICEF officials as they fled in different directions.
The victims were said to be two operatives of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) and two staff of the Consulate, who were on a medical outreach to the rural riverine areas.
In a swift response, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Anambra Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said, “The joint security forces have embarked on a rescue/recovery operation in Ogbaru LGA, following an attack on a convoy of staff of US Consulate today May 15, 2023 by 3:30 pm along Atani, Osamale road.
“The hoodlums murdered two of the Police Mobile Force operatives, and two staff of the Consulate, and set their bodies set ablaze alongside 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 atate is focused and it will remain sustained until such a time security stability is fully restored. Further details shall be communicated, please.”
