Update (2016 EST): The Biden Administration has confirmed that four people have been killed in the attack: two police officers, two U.S. Embassy personnel and three have been kidnapped. The first vehicle in the convoy was set ablaze, along with the bodies of the four killed. Two police operatives were then kidnapped from the second vehicle. None of the people killed or kidnapped were U.S. citizens, according to Kirby.
As this publication reported previously ,United States National Security Spokesperson Kirby reported that a U.S. convoy had come under fire in Nigeria. Kirby reported that no U.S. personnel had been killed. However, according to the Daily Trust, local Nigerian media and officials had confirmed that four U.S. embassy personnel were “fatally shot” in the attack.
“At least four persons were killed in the attack while others sustained injuries. Troops have taken over the community,” a security source told Daily Trust. DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra, also told the Daily Trust:
“Following the information of the shooting incident within Ogbaru community, the Commissioner of Police CP Echeng Echeng has deployed a police team led by the deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations to arrest the situation. Meanwhile, the details of the incident are still sketchy, I will get back to you as soon as I can, please.”
The Daily Trust then received a non-confirmational statement from the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria:
“We confirm there was an incident on May 16 in Anambra state. U.S. Mission Nigeria personnel are working with Nigerian security services to investigate. The security of our personnel is always paramount, and we take extensive precautions when organizing trips to the field. We have no further comment at this time.”
This information raises several serious questions concerning the event and further confirmation is needed. According to the Daily Trust, their source has not responded to further questions concerning the incident, leaving this competing narrative between local Nigerian authorities and the Biden Administration.
BREAKING: Some staff of the United States Embassy in Nigeria have been shot dead in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State. Sources told Daily Trust that the convoy of the embassy officials came under fire as they were passing through the area.
— LegitGists (@LegitGistz) May 16, 2023
