Two members of the U.S. consulate in Nigeria and two police officers were slain in an ambush on a convoy, and three others were kidnapped, according to authorities in the troubled West African nation.
Fox News said, “The group was on a humanitarian mission when they were attacked in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of the country’s Anambra State, one of the epicenters of separatist violence in the region, said Tochukwu Ikenga, a police spokesman in Anambra.”
Ikenga stated that there were no Americans in the convoy during the assault.
“We confirm there was an incident on May 16 in Anambra state. Mission Nigeria personnel are working with Nigerian security services to investigate,” a U.S. State Department spokesperson said. “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.”
US Convoy attacked in Nigeria, several dead, @WhiteHouse John Kirby said no US citizens were hurt, well still people were killed when a US convoy was hit in #Nigeria. WATCHhttps://t.co/NZq96B2BDo pic.twitter.com/bRVmSOcj9m
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) May 16, 2023
A combined squad of security forces was dispatched to the scene after the incident. Ikenga added that by the time they arrived, the attackers had departed with two additional police officers and one of the drivers.
“The hoodlums murdered two of the Police Mobile Force operatives and two staff of the Consulate, and set their bodies ablaze and their vehicles,” Ikenga said.
Read my statement on the U.S. Embassy convoy ambush in Nigeria ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/f950GVjkcE
— Rep. Cory Mills 🇺🇸 (@RepMillsPress) May 17, 2023
Fox News added:
It is not immediately 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 37 miles from the state capital, further raised concerns about the safety of residents and travelers amid the separatist violence that has become rampant in Nigeria’s southeastern region in recent years.
“Two personnel from the U.S. consulate and two police officers were killed as gunmen attacked a U.S. convoy in Nigeria. Three others were kidnapped before their vehicle was set on fire. No U.S. citizens were in the convoy,” Just Security reported.
US convoy ambushed in Nigeria, four killed https://t.co/aXl7nBhXJZ
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 17, 2023
In recent months, there has been an increase in fatal assaults against targets in remote communities, continued the news source.
Tuesday, armed gunmen launched an assault on villages in the volatile north-central region, murdering 29 and torching the homes of survivors while destroying the villages.
The assailants specifically targeted three villages in the Mangu local government area of the state of Plateau on Monday night. According to a local, they used firearms and set fire to homes, resulting in the fatalities of numerous people.
For many years, the Boko Haram insurgency has been a significant concern in the country’s northeast. The terrorist organization has carried out numerous deadly assaults, including kidnappings, bombings, and village raids. The conflict has resulted in millions of displaced people and a humanitarian crisis.
More on this story via Conservative Brief:
Additionally, there has been an increase in banditry and kidnapping incidents, particularly in the northwestern and central regions of Nigeria. Criminal groups have targeted communities, travelers, and schools, abducting individuals for ransom and causing fear and instability in affected areas. CONTINUE READING…
