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Two members of the U.S. consulate in Nigeria along with two police officers were shot and killed in an ambush on a convoy, while three others were kidnapped, authorities in the troubled West African country reported.
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 said that there were no U.S. citizens in the convoy at the time of the attack.
“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
Following the incident, a combined team of security forces was dispatched to the location. However, by the time they arrived, the attackers had already fled with two additional police officers and one of the drivers, Ikenga noted further.
“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 uptick in deadly attacks against targets in remote communities, the outlet continued.
On Tuesday, armed gunmen launched an attack on villages situated in the volatile north-central region, killing 29 while razing houses and survivors.
Late Monday night, the gunmen specifically targeted three villages in the Mangu local government area of Plateau state. According to a resident, they employed gunfire and also set houses ablaze, resulting in the deaths of numerous individuals.
In the northeastern part of the country, the Boko Haram insurgency has been a major concern for many years. The terrorist group has been responsible for numerous deadly attacks, including kidnappings, bombings, and raids on villages. The conflict has resulted in the displacement of millions of people and a humanitarian crisis.
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.
Recent developments in Nigeria have been characterized by a rise in violence and insecurity that threatens the progress made in the country’s democratic development. According to the first half of 2022, violence targeting civilians has increased by 45% compared to the same period last year. The rise of violence has been attributed to the activities of various armed groups and militias, including the Islamic State – West Africa Province (ISWAP), Ansaru, and ethnic militias operating in different parts of the country.
ISWAP has expanded its presence outside of Boko Haram’s epicenter, while Ansaru’s activity has resurged in the northwest. Meanwhile, ethnic and communal militias have continued to carry out violence, resulting in an increase in violence targeting civilians. The separatist movement in the southeast remains active, further exacerbating the situation.
The situation has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a severe economic impact on Nigeria. Hunger has affected twice as many citizens, exacerbating the already dire situation in the country.
Armed groups known as bandits have carried out widespread killings, kidnappings, and looting in the northwest, while separatist agitations in the southeast and southwest have highlighted worsening divisions and tensions in the country.
