4 individuals have been killed within the assault and three extra kidnapped, in accordance with native police in Nigeria’s Anambra State.
A convoy of United States embassy workers has come underneath hearth in southeast Nigeria, leaving two staff and two cops lifeless.
Gunmen additionally kidnapped three people — a driver and two different cops — throughout the assault on Tuesday close to the city of Atani in Nigeria’s Anambra State.
A rescue and restoration effort stays underneath means, in accordance with a police spokesperson in Anambra, Ikenga Tochukwu.
“The hoodlums murdered two of the Police Cell Pressure operatives and two workers of the Consulate, and set their our bodies ablaze and their autos,” Ikenga mentioned, noting that the realm was recognized for separatist violence.
He additionally expressed remorse that the convoy selected to “enter the state with out recourse to the police within the space or any safety company”. Legislation enforcement, he mentioned, arrived solely after the attackers escaped.
US Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson John Kirby briefly addressed the incident at a White Home press briefing on Tuesday, affirming “it does appear to be a US convoy car was attacked”.
“What I can let you know is that no US residents have been concerned, and due to this fact there have been no US residents damage,” Kirby mentioned. He indicated that the US was conscious of the casualties, although.
The US Division of State later issued an announcement saying its diplomatic workers have been “working with Nigerian safety companies to research”.
“The safety of our personnel is at all times paramount, and we take in depth precautions when organising journeys to the sphere,” the State Division mentioned.
The assault came about alongside a significant roadway at about 3:30pm native time (14:30 GMT). Police in Anambra have indicated they imagine separatists are answerable for the assault as a part of an escalating marketing campaign of violence.
Officers within the area typically level to a separatist group known as the Indigenous Individuals of Biafra (IPOB), which has led a push to secede from Nigeria in favour of creating its personal republic.
In 2020, it shaped a paramilitary organisation known as the Jap Safety Community, ostensibly to guard native farmers and residents from crime — however Nigerian police have accused it of finishing up violent assaults.
IPOB has denied any involvement within the violence. Nevertheless, tensions have risen for the reason that arrest of the group’s founding chief Nnamdi Kanu, first in 2015 and once more in 2021, after he had skipped bail and fled overseas for a number of years.
Kanu had confronted costs of treason and terrorism, which he pleaded not responsible to. In October, an appellate courtroom dropped the seven-count cost of terrorism towards Kanu, saying the trial courtroom lacked jurisdiction.
Separatists have lengthy rallied for a referendum to be organised over the query of independence in southeast Nigeria. However such questions include a fraught historical past: In 1967, the Republic of Biafra declared independence, launching a three-year-long civil warfare in Nigeria that killed tons of of 1000’s of individuals.
Extra lately, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected makes an attempt to carry a referendum, calling the nation’s unity non-negotiable. He’s set to go away workplace on the finish of this month after serving two four-year phrases.
He will likely be succeeded by President-elect Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.
The information of Tuesday’s convoy killings comes on the heels of an in a single day assault late on Monday within the north-central state of Plateau, the place village raids left an estimated 30 individuals lifeless and homes destroyed.
Plateau State Commissioner of Info and Communication Dan Manjang informed the AFP information company that the raids had erupted from clashes between the predominantly Muslim herders and farmers within the area who’re majority Christian.