Some personnel of the United States Embassy in Nigeria have reportedly been attacked in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The US mission Nigeria confirmed the incident.
“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 organising trips to the field. We have no further comment at this time,” US Mission Nigeria spokesperson said.
But spokesman of the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said that no U.S citizen was in the convoy attacked by gunmen on Tuesday.
The gunmen opened fire on the convoy of staff of U.S Consulate in Ogbaru Local Government Area.
Ikenga, however, said two mobile policemen and two staff members of the U.S Consulate on the convoy were killed and their bodies and vehicles set ablaze.
He said:“Following the information of the shooting incident within Ogbaru community, the Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng, has deployed a police team, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations to arrest the situation.
According to him, a Joint Security Force has embarked on a rescue and recovery operation to track and apprehend the gunmen.
“Following an attack on a convoy of staff of U.S Consulate around 3:30pm along Atani, Osamale road.
“The hoodlums murdered two of the PMF operatives, and two staff of the Consulate, and set their bodies ablaze and 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,” he said.
Ikenga said the command is concerned that such officials will visit the State without recourse to the police in the area or any security agency.
He assured that the battle against insurgents in the State will be sustained until stability is fully restored.
– NAN