•The casualties: Five US Embassy staff, four police officers

By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng, has announced the names of the United States Embassy in Nigeria officials who were killed by gunmen in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.

Making the announcement during a press conference at the police headquarters in Amawbia on Thursday, the Commissioner attributed the killing to the proscribed Indigenous of People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN).

He said: “As you are probably aware, a team of officials from the Lagos Consulate of the United States of America and their police escorts (USA) were ambushed on 16/05/2023 between 12:00hours and 14:00hours, along Atani/Osamela road in Ogbaru Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State by suspected Eastern Security Network (ESN)/Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB).

“Information about the incident was received by Anambra State Police Command, through an official of the consulate, at about 14:30 hours. Consequently, a joint team of Mobile Policemen and troops of the Nigerian Navy stationed in Onitsha was immediately deployed to the area.

“Upon arrival at the scene of the incident, the joint security team sighted and engaged the assailants in a shoot-out but they escaped through a nearby forest.

“Yesterday – 17/05/2023, joint security forces comprising police tactical teams from the command and troops of the Nigerian Army as well as the Nigerian Navy raided a camp in Ugwuaneocha community of Ogbaru LGA, which was suspected to be the hideout of the assailants, but discovered that it had been deserted.

“Two persons of interest were arrested and they currently assisting the police in the investigation. The criminal camp was razed down by the joint security team.”

Meanwhile, the death toll, previously upgraded from five to seven, has now hit nine, according to a press statement made available on Thursday by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Tochukwu Ikenga.

The statement listed the following persons as victims of the attack: Jefferson Obayuwane (RTD DSS personnel), Sunday Prince Ubong, Ekene Nweke, Hassan Etila, Avwuvie Kaye, Monday, Bukar A. Kabuiki – (Police), Emmanuel Lukpata – (Police), Friday Morgan – (Police), and Adamu Andrew – (Police).

The PPRO said that the remains of the deceased persons have all been recovered and deposited in a mortuary.

He said that the state police command and other security agencies are working round-the-clock, in concert with the Government of Anambra State, to find and rescue the missing officials.

Ikenga urged members of the public to support its effort to get the identities and locations of the culprits, through provision of quality information.

The Commissioner condoles with the families and friends of the deceased persons.

He extended his condolence to the USA Consulate over the tragic incident and assured that efforts would be deployed to track down the perpetrators of the heinous crimes and bring them to justice.

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