Gunmen in Nigeria have launched an assault on a convoy of US personnel, resulting in the tragic deaths of four individuals, including two members of the US consulate and two police officers.
During the attack, three additional individuals were abducted before the assailants set their vehicle ablaze.
The incident occurred in the southeastern region of Anambra state. Authorities have promptly initiated a rescue and recovery operation to address the situation.
It is important to note that no US citizens were present in the targeted convoy, and further information regarding the purpose of the convoy’s presence in the state has not been disclosed.
A Nigerian state police spokesperson expressed regret that the convoy entered the state “without recourse to the police in the area or any security agency”.
The US said its mission in Nigeria was working with Nigerian security services to investigate the incident.
“The security of our personnel is always paramount, and we take extensive precautions when organising trips to the field,” the US State Department said.
Violence in the south-east of the country is just one of the many issues facing president-elect Bola Tinubu, who takes the helm of Africa’s most populous nation later this month.