A United States convoy vehicle carrying embassy staffers was targeted in an attack that resulted in the deaths of two local workers and two policemen. Authorities have reported that three individuals were also abducted by the assailants. The United States National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, stated during a briefing with reporters in Washington that no US citizens were hurt in the attack.
Authorities have attributed the violence to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group active in the region. Tochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesman in Anambra, confirmed that the assailants brutally murdered the four victims before setting the vehicle ablaze. Ikenga further added that a rescue-recovery operation was promptly initiated in response to the incident.
Upon their arrival at the scene, a joint team of security forces discovered that the attackers had already escaped, taking with them two police officers and a driver. The United States State Department has affirmed its commitment to collaborate with Nigerian security agencies in order to investigate the attack.
This distressing event occurred along a major road in Anambra State, which has become a focal point for separatist violence in the region. The separatists, who are advocating for a referendum, have intensified their attacks in recent years, predominantly targeting government buildings and law enforcement agencies.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari firmly rejects any calls for the country’s partition and asserts that the unity of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, is non-negotiable. Nigerian officials have consistently held the Indigenous People of Biafra responsible for acts of violence. The leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, is presently incarcerated for charges of treason.
It is worth noting that IPOB has repeatedly denied any involvement in such attacks, disputing accusations made against the group. As investigations continue into this devastating assault, authorities and security forces are working diligently to secure the release of the abducted individuals and bring the perpetrators to justice.
This unfortunate incident serves as a distressing reminder of the ongoing tensions and conflicts in Nigeria, underscoring the need for swift and decisive action to ensure the safety and security of all citizens and foreign personnel within the country.
