Four US officials killed in Anambra

Some staff of the United States Embassy in Nigeria were on Tuesday feared killed in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Sources said the convoy of the embassy officials came under fire as they were passing through the area.

A source said they were on humanitarian mission to the area while another source said the attacked officials wanted to connect their destination through Ogbaru.

“At least four persons were killed in the attack while others sustained injuries. Troops have taken over the community,” a security source said.

Details of the attack were not available as of the time of filing this report, but DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra, confirmed the incident.

However, he did not go into details.

He said, “Following the information of the shooting incident within Ogbaru community, the Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng has deployed a police team led by the deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations to arrest the situation.

“Meanwhile, the details of the incident are still sketchy, I will get back to you as soon as I can, please.”

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

At least four people were killed Tuesday after a U.S. convoy was attacked in Nigeria.

The attackers “murdered two police operatives and two staff of the U.S. consulate and set their bodies and their vehicles ablaze.”

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The gunmen also abducted two additional police operatives and a driver.

None of the casualties were American, according to the National Security Council.

“A U.S. convoy of vehicles was attacked. What I can tell you is that no U.S. citizens were involved and therefore, there were no U.S. citizens hurt,” NSC spokesperson John Kirby said during a White House briefing. “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.”

Nigerian law enforcement confirmed no Americans were involved.

“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 in response.

Anambra is one of the South Eastern States with high level of violence in recent times.