About four persons identified as staff of United States embassy in Nigeria were on Tuesday feared dead after gunmen opened fire on them at a location between Amiyi/Eke Ochuche communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The victims were reportedly shot dead after they were ambushed while others sustained varying degrees of injury.
The attackers also set ablaze the bodies of the dead.
The injured escaped in their vehicle bearing U.S. embassy inscription.
It was learnt that the incident occured at about 4.30pm, and threw residents waiting for medical treatment from the team into panic and confusion.
“They were reportedly ambushed and about four of them were gunned down, while others sustained various degrees of injuries as they escaped with their vehicle that have the US embassy inscription
“Among the deceased were whites and blacks officials who were on a medical outreach to the rural riverine areas,” the source said.
Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga in Anambra saying gun two US consulate personnel and two mobile police operatives.
“Following information of the shooting incident within the 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, ” he said.
In a statement released later, he said two staff of the United States consulate in Nigeria were m¥urdered and their bodies set on fire by unknown gunmen in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra on Tuesday.
He explained that the US consulate staff were in the area for a humanitarian activities when they were attacked by the assailants who also killed two Police Mobile Force operatives.
He said, ‘’The Joint Security Forces have embarked on a rescue/recovery operation in Ogbaru LGA, following an attack on a convoy of staff of U S Consulate today 16/5/2023 by 3:30 pm along Atani, Osamale road. The hoodlums m¥rdered 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
“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.”
The US mission Nigeria also confirmed the incident, saying its personnel were collaborating with security operatives to get to the root of the matter.
“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 US Mission Nigeria spokesperson said.
