Report have it that two staff of the United States Consulate in Nigeria were murdered and their bodies set ablaze by unknown gunmen in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State on Tuesday, May 16.
The US consulate staff were in the area for humanitarian work when they were attacked by the assailants who also killed two PMF (Police Mobile Force) operatives.
Even as the White House confirmed on Tuesday that a US convoy vehicle was attacked in Nigeria, but the statement said that no US citizens were harmed in the incident.
The spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed this in a statement released.
The statement reads:
‘’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 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
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.''
However, during a White House press briefing, John Kirby, the spokesperson for the National Security Council, stated that while no US citizens were involved, casualties were reported, potentially including fatalities.
“What I can tell you is that no US citizens were involved,” affirmed National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby. He added, “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.”
Kirby highlighted that the White House and relevant authorities are actively investigating the incident to gather more information and determine the full extent of the casualties.
The attack has prompted concerns about the safety of American personnel operating in Nigeria and underscores the volatile situation in the region.
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