18th May, 2023
Seven lives were lost in the gruesome attack by yet to be identified gunmen on a convoy of United States’ embassy officials in Ogbaru area of Anambra State on Tuesday, the state police commissioner, Echeng Echeng told journalists at a press briefing on Thursday.
Echeng who spoke to journalists in Awka, the state capital however said two are still missing from the attack.
He added that two persons of interest have been arrested by the police in relation to the attack.
Echeng said the suspects were helping the police in their investigation of the murder of the US Embassy officials who were killed between between Amiyi/Eke Ochuche communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area.
According to him, the suspects were arrested during a raid of the hoodlums’ camp, while the command was gradually closing in on the killers.
The Police Commissioner added that remains of all the murdered people have been recovered and deposited while efforts were on to find and rescue the missing officials.
The Anambra Police Commission said the two suspects were arrested during a raid by joint security forces comprising police tactical teams from the command and troops of the Nigerian Army as well as the Nigerian Navy at a camp in Ogwuaniocha community of Ogbaru LGA.
But he said the camp, which was suspected to be the hideout of the assailants, had been deserted when security operatives got there.
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.
“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 shot-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 Ogwuaniocha 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.”
Echeng added that US embassy has being cooperating the command with needed information on the officials and their mission to the state.
But he said the Police will not apportion blame on whether or not the officials sought security clearance from the command before entrance into the State.
He stressed that the priority was to unmask the perpetrators.