- U.S. says no citizen was hurt or killed in attack on convoy
Terrorists on Tuesday murdered two of Police Mobile Force (PMF) operatives and two staff of the U.S. Consulate and set their bodies and vehicles ablaze in Ogbaru Local Government Areas of Anambra State.
Police also said the “arsonist/murderers on sighting the responding joint security forces abducted two Police operatives.”
This is just as the White House, in confirming the attack on its convoy in Anambra State and the casualties, said through National Security Council Spokesperson, John Kirby, that no American citizen was injured or killed in the attack.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but sources said that the terror attack was perpetrated by “franchise elements operating under the banner of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN). This is their modus operandi. But investigations are ongoing.”
“Don’t know a whole lot. I just got informed here before coming out to talk to y’all,” Kirby said. “It does look like a U.S. convoy was attacked. But I can tell you, no U.S. citizens were involved, therefore, there were no U.S. citizens hurt. But we are aware of some casualties, perhaps even some killed, but I don’t want to get too far ahead of where we are right now. It just happened.”
Most details surrounding the attack remain unknown at this point, though Kirby noted the State Department is looking into the situation.
“We confirm there was an incident on May 16 in Anambra State,” a State Department spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. “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.”
Spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command Tobechukwu Ikenga, also confirmed in a statement that no US citizen was in the convoy, but said that four persons were gunned down.
“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.
“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.”
He expressed regret over the convoy’s entry into the state without recourse to the police or any other security agency in the area, but assured that the police won’t be deterred in their battle against insurgents.
He noted that such battle “will remain sustained until such a time security stability is fully restored”.
The attack is the latest in a series of attacks in Anambra State, often targeted on security and government facilities, as well as on high-profile personalities.