US Embassy staff shot dead in Anambra

Some staff of the United States Embassy in Nigeria were shot dead yesterday in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Sources told Daily Trust that 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 told Daily Trust.

Details of the attack were not available as of the time of filing this report.

DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra, confirmed the incident, but did not provide details.

“Following the information of the shooting incident within Ogbaru community, the Commissioner of Police CP 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.”

Ikenga declined subsequent communication with Daily Trust on the incident as he neither responded to calls nor replied further messages.

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.

“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 to Daily Trust inquiry.

Anambra is one of the south eastern states with high level of violence in recent times.

Security operatives have blamed attacks on the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN), its armed wing, but the group has repeatedly denied the allegation.

Many lives have been lost in the campaign of violence launched by deadly groups operating under the guise of “unknown gunmen”.