Gunmen attack US consulate convoy in Anambra, killed four

Four persons have been confirmed dead following Tuesday attack on on the convoy of US consulate staff along Atani, Osamale Road in Anambra State.

Confirming the development, the spokesman of the Anambra State Police Command, Tobechukwu Ikenga in a statement said no US citizen was in the convoy.

“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 16/5/2023 by 3:30 pm along Atani, Osamale Road,” he noted.

“The hoodlums murdered two of the PMF operatives, and two staff of the Consulate, and set their bodies and vehicles ablaze. 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.”

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While expressing the Command’s regret over the convoy’s entry into the state without recourse to the police or any other security agency in the area, the spokesman assured that the police won’t be deterred in their battle against insurgents.

Ikenga reiterated the determination of the Command to sustain the battle against insurgent. According to him, “the battle will remain sustained until such a time security stability is fully restored”.

In the wake of the attack, the US National Security Council Spokesperson John  Kirby said no American citizen was affected.

“I just got informed about a whole lot before coming out here to talk to you all. Just looks like a US convoy vehicle was attacked,” he said on his YouTube channel. ”What I can tell you is that no US citizens were involved and therefore there was no US citizens hurt. But we are aware of some casualties perhaps even some killed.”

Anambra State has been enmeshed in series of attack with focus on government facilities and security outfits.

Ikenga had given the commitment of security agencies to fish out the perpetrators soon.