Some gunmen ambushed a diplomatic convoy carrying US Embassy personnel on a humanitarian mission to Anambra on Tuesday.
The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said on Wednesday, that his country will work with Nigerian authorities to bring the perpetrators of Tuesday’s deadly attack on a US Embassy convoy in Anambra, to justice.
Some gunmen ambushed a diplomatic convoy carrying US Embassy personnel on a humanitarian mission to Anambra on Tuesday.
The gunmen killed four people, including two police officers, at the Amiyi-Eke Ochuche axis in the Ogbaru council area.
The bodies of the victims were set on fire by the attackers.
However, the U.S. government in a statement posted on the official website of the US Department of State on Wednesday and signed by Antony Blinken condemned the attack.
Blinken said the mission personnel were working urgently with Nigerian counterparts to ascertain the location and condition of the members of the convoy who were unaccounted for.
The statement reads in part; " Unknown assailants yesterday attacked a convoy of two U.S. government vehicles in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra state, Nigeria.
“The convoy was carrying nine Nigerian nationals: five employees of the U.S. Mission to Nigeria and four members of the Nigeria Police Force. They were traveling in advance of a planned visit by U.S. Mission personnel to a U.S.-funded flood response project in Anambra.
“We do not yet know the motive for the attack, but we have no indications at this time that it was targeted against our Mission. The assailants killed at least four members of the convoy, and U.S. Mission personnel are working urgently with Nigerian counterparts to ascertain the location and condition of the members of the convoy who are unaccounted for.
“We condemn in the strongest terms this attack. We will work closely with our Nigerian law enforcement colleagues in seeking to bring those responsible to justice.
“The United States has no greater priority than the safety and security of our personnel. We express our heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed in the attack, and pledge to do everything possible to safely recover those who remain missing. We deeply value our relationship with our Locally Employed Staff and our partnership with Nigeria.
“The United States reaffirms its commitment to the people of Nigeria to assist in the fight against violence and insecurity.”