The United States has expressed its condemnation of the attack on a convoy of US consulate workers in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State on Tuesday, allegedly by unknown gunmen. The convoy was reportedly travelling ahead of a scheduled visit by US mission personnel to a US-funded flood response project in Anambra. Five employees of the US mission to Nigeria and four members of the Nigeria Police Force were in the convoy when the attack occurred. Sadly, at least four members were killed and some are still missing.
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, confirmed that the US is working with Nigerian law enforcement agencies to ensure those culpable for the attack are brought to book. He stated that although the motive for the attack was still unknown, there were no indications that it was a targeted attack against the US Mission.
In a similar vein, Nigeria’s President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), expressed his sadness and condoled with the families of those killed in the incident. He added that the federal government is committed to fishing out the perpetrators of the attack and bringing them to justice.
Conversely, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in its statement issued by its spokesperson, Francisca Omayuli, also condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased as well as the United States Consulate and Mission in Nigeria.
The attack on the convoy of US consulate workers is not the only incident of violence in the country in recent days. In Benue and Plateau states, several citizens were brutally murdered in separate incidents. President Buhari also expressed his grief over these killings.
The safety and security of personnel, both local and international, remains a top priority. As such, the joint efforts of the US and Nigerian law enforcement agencies will hopefully aid in bringing the perpetrators of these attacks to justice and ensuing people’s safety.
