Gunmen attack US convoy in Anambra, kill 4

Gunmen attacked a convoy of U.S. Embassy staffers in Anambra on Tuesday, killing two workers and two policemen, according to the police.

– Key points to note

The assailants launched the attack on the convoy along a major road in the Ogbaru local government area of Anambra State, known for its separatist violence. The two staff were Nigerians.

Tochukwu Ikenga, a police spokesman in Anambra, said the hoodlums not only killed two mobile police operatives and two consulate staff members but also set their bodies and vehicles on fire.

A joint security team deployed to the scene arrived after the attackers had left with two police officers and one of the drivers.

In response to the incident, the U.S. State Department said in a statement it was working with Nigerian security agencies to investigate the incident.

“The security of our personnel is always paramount, and we take extensive precautions when organizing trips to the field,” it said in a statement.

It was not clear what the trip was about or the size of the. The police spokesperson, Mr Ikenga, said the convoy the state without notifying the local police or any security agency, calling it a regrettable oversight.

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The brazen attack took place in Atani town, situated approximately 60 kilometers from Awka, the state capital.

It raises significant concerns regarding the safety of both residents and travellers amidst the escalating separatist violence in Nigeria’s southeastern region.

The government blames the violence to the separatist group the Indigenous People of Biafra, which advocates for the region’s secession from Nigeria. The group typically denies involvement. It has not commented on the latest incident.