Police confirm killing of two cops, two US consulate officials in Anambra

Police confirm killing of two cops, two US consulate officials in Anambra

 

Gunmen on Tuesday opened fire on the convoy of the US consulate officials in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing two of them and two policemen.

They were said to have set the victims ablaze with the vehicles conveying them.

Both the police and the US authorities who confirmed the attack however said no US citizen was killed.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, said in a statement on Tuesday that the incident occurred along Atani, Osamale road around 3:30pm.
“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 3:30pm 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 arsonists/murderers on sighting the responding joint security forces abducted two oolice 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 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 statement read.

The US mission Nigeria also confirmed the incident, saying its personnel were collaborating with Nigerian security operatives to get to the bottom of the matter.

Daily Trust quoted a US Mission Nigeria’s spokesman as saying, “We confirm there was an incident on May 16 in Anambra State. US 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.”  

Police confirm killing of two cops, two US consulate officials in Anambra