U.S Convoy Attack: 5 Personnel Still Missing, We’ll Seek To Bring Attackers To Justice – Secretary Blinken

HIGHLIGHTS

• Attacked U.S Convoy Travelling In Advance Of Planned U.S Mission Visit To Flood Response Project In Anambra

• The convoy was carrying nine Nigerian nationals: five employees of the U.S. Mission to Nigeria and four members of the Nigeria Police Force

• 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

• The United States has no greater priority than the safety and security of our personnel

Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, on Wednesday gave more insights into the attack on U.S convoy during which four personnel, including two policemen,  were killed and set ablaze by unidentified gunmen in Ogabru, Anambra State-Nigeria

Blinken, in a statement made available to Prime Business Africa through the U.S Consulate Office in Lagos, disclosed that 5 personnel were still missing.

Titled “Attack on U.S Convoy”, the press 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.”

Blinken noted that the U.S did not yet know the motive for the attack, “but we have no indications at this time that it was targeted against our Mission.”

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He said 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.”

According to Blinken, the United States reaffirms its commitment to the people of Nigeria “to assist in the fight against violence and insecurity.”

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