Anambra: Panic as gunmen kill two US consulate staff, two policemen

Four staff members of the United States Embassy in Nigeria have been shot dead in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State following an attack on their vehicle on Tuesday.

The PUNCH  gathered that the convoy of embassy officials who were on a humanitarian mission in the state came under fire while they were passing through the area.

“The reason for the attack is yet to be ascertained, but the officials were on a humanitarian mission in the state, and we were attacked while passing through Ogbaru LGA,” a source said.

Reacting to the development in a statement following an inquiry by The PUNCH, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said, “The joint security forces have embarked on a rescue/recovery operation in Ogbaru Local Government Area, following an attack on a convoy of staff of US Consulate today, May 15, 2023, around 3.30pm along Atani, Osamale Road.

“The hoodlums murdered two of the Police Mobile Force operatives, and two staff members of the Consulate, and set their bodies 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 US 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. Further details shall be communicated, please.”