Fatalities Reported After US Embassy Convoy Attacked in Nigeria
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A convoy of United States embassy staff was ambushed in southeast Nigeria, leading to the deaths of two employees and two police officers.
Additionally, three individuals, including two police officers and a driver, were kidnapped during the attack near Atani in Anambra State on Tuesday, according to Al Jazeera.
Anambra police spokesperson Ikenga Tochukwu said that efforts are underway to rescue and recover the kidnapped individuals. He stated, "The hoodlums murdered two of the Police Mobile Force operatives and two staff of the Consulate, and set their bodies ablaze and their vehicles," highlighting the area's history of separatist violence.
The purpose of the US embassy staffers' trip in Anambra and the exact number of people in the convoy remain unclear. Ikenga expressed regret that the convoy entered the state without informing the local police or any security agency. Law enforcement authorities arrived after the attackers had fled.
During a White House press briefing, US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby acknowledged the attack, confirming that a US convoy vehicle was targeted. He added, "No US citizens were involved and, therefore, there were no US citizens hurt."
The US Department of State issued a statement, affirming its collaboration with Nigerian security services to investigate the incident. Emphasizing the safety of their personnel, they stated, "We take extensive precautions when organizing trips to the field."
The attack occurred along a major roadway around 3:30 pm local time. Anambra police believe separatists are responsible, as part of an escalating campaign of violence. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group seeking to establish its own republic, is often cited as a potential source of such attacks. IPOB denies involvement, but tensions have increased following the arrest of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Separatists in southeast Nigeria have long called for a referendum on independence. However, President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected such attempts, declaring the unity of the country non-negotiable. He is set to leave office at the end of this month, with President-elect Bola Tinubu to succeed him.
The attack on the convoy follows another incident in Plateau State, where clashes between herders and farmers resulted in around 30 deaths and the destruction of houses. Plateau State Commissioner of Information and Communication, Dan Manjang, attributed the raids to the ongoing conflicts between the two groups.