Anambra attack: Some officials in the convoy are still missing, says US

The US says it will ensure that the perpetrators of the attack on its convoy are brought to justice.

 

On Tuesday, gunmen attacked a convoy conveying staff of the US consulate, officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and some civilians.

 

Ikenga Tochukwu, Anambra police spokesperson, said two police operatives were killed alongside two staff of the consulate.

 

The bodies of the victims were set ablaze by the gunmen, he added.

 

The White House had said the state department was looking into the issue.

 

In a statement on Wednesday, Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, said the convoy was conveying the staff to a US-funded flood project in Anambra.

 

He said some members of the convoy “are unaccounted for”, adding that the US would collaborate with Nigerian security agencies to ensure that the attackers are brought to book.

 

 “Unknown assailants yesterday attacked a convoy of two US. government vehicles in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra state, Nigeria. The convoy was carrying nine Nigerian nationals: five employees of the U.S. Mission to Nigeria and four members of the Nigeria Police Force. They were travelling in advance of a planned visit by U.S. Mission personnel to a U.S.-funded flood response project in Anambra,” the statement reads.

 

“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.”

 

Blinken said the US will do “everything possible to safely recover those who remain missing”.

 

The US will continue to assist Nigeria in the fight against violence and insecurity, he added.