Attack On US Convoy: Two Arrested By Police In Anambra

The arrest of two suspects linked to the recent attack on officials of the US Consulate and their police escorts in Anambra State has been disclosed by the police.

The development was confirmed by the State Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng on Thursday.

He disclosed that the suspects were apprehended following a collaborative effort among security forces comprising police tactical teams from the command and troops of the Nigerian Army.

Echeng added that also involved was the Nigerian Navy which raided a camp around the Ugwuaneocha community in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state.

“As you are probably aware, a team of officials from the Lagos Consulate of the United States of America and their police escorts were ambushed on May 16, 2023, between 12 pm and 2 pm, along Atani/Osamela Road, in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, by suspected Eastern Security Network and Indigenous people of Biafra.

“Information about the incident was received by Anambra State Police Command, through an official of the consulate, around 2.30 pm.

“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 shootout, but they escaped through a nearby forest.

“On May 17, 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 the Ugwuaneocha community of Ogbaru LGA, which was suspected to be the hideout of the assailants but discovered that it had been deserted”, he said.

Echeng added two persons of interest were arrested and have been aiding the police in its investigation into the attack that led to the death of seven persons.

“The criminal camp was razed down by the joint security team.

“The preliminary investigation conducted by the command, following the incident, revealed that five male officials of the USA consulate and four armed Mobile Police escorted from Lagos on a mission to assess the impact of erosion in Ogbaru LGA were travelling in a convoy of two vehicles when they suddenly came under attack by armed men who targeted them with gunfire and set their vehicles ablaze.

“Regrettably, seven persons including three of the consulate officials and four Mobile Police escorts were murdered during the attack while two other officials of the consulate are yet to be found.

“Information from the USAID authority disclosed that five of their staff and four policemen involved in the attack are Jefferson Obayuwane (Retd. DSS personnel), Sunday Prince Ubong, Ekene Nweke, Hassan Etila and Avwuvie Kaye Monday”, he stated.