Gunmen have reportedly killed four people in the Amiyi and Eke Ochuche communities of Ogbaru LGA in Anambra.
Speaking on the incident, Ikenga Tochukwu, the police spokesperson in Anambra, said the gunmen attacked the convoy conveying staff of the United States consulate.
He said the “hoodlums murdered two of the PMF operatives and two staff members of the consulate”, adding that the bodies of the victims were set ablaze by the gunmen.
“Security forces have embarked on a rescue and recovery operation in Ogbaru LGA following an attack on a convoy of staff of the US consulate today, Friday, May 16, 2023, by 3:30 pm along Atani and Osamale roads.
“The hoodlums murdered two of the PMF operatives and two staff members of the consulate and set their bodies ablaze and their vehicles on fire,” he said.
“Also, the arsonists or 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 incident, regrets that a convoy of such or any related vehicles will enter the state without recourse to the police in the area or any security agency, and assures that the battle against the insurgents in the state is focused and will remain sustained until such a time as security stability is fully restored.”
The US mission in Nigeria confirmed the incident, noting that the security of their personnel is paramount.
“We confirm there was an incident on May 16 in Anambra State.” U.S. Mission Nigeria personnel are working with Nigerian security services to investigate.
“The security of our personnel is always paramount, and we take extensive precautions when organizing trips to the field.
“We have no further comment at this time,” a spokesperson of the US mission who spoke with the Daily Trust said.
