U.S. reacts to embassy officials killing in Anambra

The United States Government says it will work with security agencies in Nigeria to arrest the killers of its embassy officials in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The Star had reported that gunmen killed two policemen and two officials of the U.S. Consulate on Tuesday, May 16, after the assailants opened fire on the convoy of the embassy officials in Ogbaru LGA of Anambra State.

Confirming the incident, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the assailants also set the victims’ bodies and vehicles ablaze.

Ikenga, however, stated that no U.S. citizen was in the convoy attacked by the gunmen at about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

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Reacting to the incident, the U.S. government, in a statement issued on Wednesday, May 17, by the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said: “We do not yet know the motive for the attack, but we have no indications at this time that it was targeted against our Mission.

“The assailants killed at least four members of the convoy, and U.S. Mission personnel are working urgently with Nigerian counterparts to ascertain the location and condition of the members of the convoy who are unaccounted for.

“We condemn in the strongest terms this attack. We will work closely with our Nigerian law enforcement colleagues in seeking to bring those responsible to justice.

“The United States has no greater priority than the safety and security of our personnel. We express our heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed in the attack and pledge to do everything possible to safely recover those who remain missing. We deeply value our relationship with our Locally Employed Staff and our partnership with Nigeria.”

Blinken further assured the United States’ commitment to Nigerians to assist in the fight against violence and insecurity in the country.

The Star