Yet-to-be identified gunmen, on Tuesday, have attacked and killed two staff of the United States Consulate and two police mobile force men in Anambra State.
According to the spokesman of the state police command, Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed this development, the victims were attacked along Atani Osamale Road in Ogbaru and their vehicles, set ablaze.
“The hoodlums murdered two of the Police Mobile Force operatives and two staff of the Consulate, and set their bodies ablaze and their vehicles,” he said.
Ikenga also noted that two other security operatives and the driver of one of the vehicles were abducted.
“A joint team of security forces was deployed to the scene but arrived only after the assailants escaped with two other police officers and one of the drivers,” Ikenga added.
He however, said no US citizen was on the trip.
Also, US State Department said in a statement, that its personnel in Nigeria are working with the nation’s security agencies to investigate Tuesday’s attack.
“The security of our personnel is always paramount, and we take extensive precautions when organizing trips to the field”. The statement read
It is not clear the nature of the trip embarked upon by the U.S. embassy staffers in Anambra, nor how many there were in the convoy.
Ikenga said it was regrettable that “a convoy of such or any related will enter the state without recourse to the police in the area or any security agency.”
The attack in Atani town, located 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the state capital, further raised concerns about the safety of the residents and travelers.
Chioma Kalu
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