Anambra: Police confirm seven killed, two missing in attack on US embassy officials

Police in Anambra State on Thursday said seven persons were murdered while two are still missing in Tuesday’s attack on United States embassy officials in Anambra State.

Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, who announced this in a briefing, said two persons have been arrested in connection with the attack.

The deceased were gunned down between Amiyi/Eke Ochuche communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area.

Echeng said the suspects were arrested during a raid of the hoodlums’ camp adding that they were assisting police in their investigations.

He added that the suspects’ contacts were traced through their phone conversations while the command was gradually closing in on the killers.

According to CP, the deceased remains have all been recovered and deposited while efforts were on to find and rescue the missing officials.

He said: “As you are probably aware, a team of officials from the Lagos Consulate of the United States of America and their police escorts (USA) were ambushed on 16/05/2023. “Consequently, a joint team of Mobile Policemen and troops of the Nigerian Navy stationed in Onitsha was immediately deployed to the area. Upon arrival at the scene of the incident, the joint security team sighted and engaged the assailants in a shot-out but they escaped through a nearby forest.

“Yesterday, 17/05/2023, joint security forces comprising police tactical teams from the command and troops of the Nigerian Army as well as the Nigerian Navy raided a camp in Ogwuaniocha community of Ogbaru LGA, which was suspected to be the hideout of the assailants, but discovered that it had been deserted.

“Two persons of interest were arrested and they currently assisting the police in the investigation. The criminal camp was razed down by the joint security team.”

Reacting to the level of cooperation the command has received from the US government since the incident, Echeng said US embassy has been cooperative and assisted the command with needed information on the officials and their mission to the state.

He, however, said the briefing was not time to apportion blame on whether or not the officials sought security clearance from the command before entrance into the State, stressing that the priority was to unmask the perpetrators. Nation