2 Suspect Detain in Connection with US Envoy Killing
In reference to the attack on a convoy of US Consulate employees on Tuesday along the Atani/Osamela Road in the Anambra State’s Ogbaru Local Government Area, the Anambra State Police Command reports having detained two suspects.
The PUNCH stated that while going through the region, embassy personnel who were on a humanitarian mission in the state fell under fire.
Three Nigerian employees of the US embassy as well as four police officers who were following the convoy were killed in the incident, according to the authorities.
Two individuals were detained during a joint operation by the police, the Army, and the Navy, according to Echeng Echeng, the Anambra state police commissioner, who spoke at a press conference in Awka on Thursday.
As you are certainly aware, on May 16, 2023, between 12:00 and 14:00 hours, along the Atani/Osamela Road in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, a group of American consular officials from Lagos and their police escorts were confronted by suspected members of the Eastern Security Network and the Indigenous People of Biafra.
“At around 14:30, the Anambra State Police Command received information of the event through a representative of the consulate. A joint team of Mobile Policemen and Nigerian Navy soldiers stationed in Onitsha was subsequently sent to the area right away.
The joint security team located and engaged the attackers in a shootout when they arrived at the location of the event, but they were able to flee through a neighboring forest.
“On May 17, 2023, joint security forces made up of police tactical teams from the command, Nigerian Army soldiers, and members of the Nigerian Navy conducted a raid on a camp in the Ugwuaneocha community of Ogbaru LG that was thought to be the attackers’ hiding place, but they found it to be deserted.
“Two people of interest were detained, and they are now assisting the police with their investigation,” the statement read. The united security force destroyed the criminal camp.
“The preliminary investigation carried out by the command, following the incident, revealed that five male US consulate officials and four armed Mobile Police escorted from Lagos on a mission to assess the impact of erosion in the Ogbaru LG were traveling in a convoy of two vehicles when they suddenly came under attack by armed men who opened fire on their vehicles,” the preliminary investigation found.
“Unfortunately, during the incident, seven people—including three consulate officials and four mobile police escorts—were killed, and two additional diplomatic employees have not yet been located.
According to information from the USAID authority, the attackers included Jefferson Obayuwane (a retired DSS employee), Sunday Prince Ubong, Ekene Nweke, Hassan Etila, and Avwuvie Kaye Monday.
The state police command and other security organizations were reportedly working around the clock in coordination with the government of Anambra State to locate and rescue the missing officials while the deceased’s corpses had been retrieved and placed in a morgue, according to the CP.
He thus appealed to members of the public who might have information on the names and locations of the offenders to kindly report that information to the police as soon as possible.
“May I reassure you all of the resolve and determination of the command and other security agencies to track down the perpetrators of these heinous crimes and bring them to justice,” Echeng continued.
