CONVOY ATTACK: US CONDEMNS KILLINGS, COMMITS TO WORKING WITH NIGERIA TO RECOVER MISSING PERSONS

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The United States government has condemned the killing of some staff of the U.S. Mission to Nigeria by some unidentified assailants in Anambra state.

Some gunmen recently attacked a convoy of two U.S. government vehicles carrying nine Nigerian nationals: five employees of the U.S. Mission to Nigeria and four members of the Nigeria Police Force in the Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra state, Nigeria.

They were traveling in advance of a planned visit by U.S. Mission personnel to a U.S-funded flood response project in Anambra.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the American government condemned the attack in the strongest terms.

He assured that the U.S government will work closely with the Nigerian law enforcement colleagues in seeking to bring those responsible to justice.

“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,” he said.

Blinken, who noted that the United States has no greater priority than the safety and security of our personnel, said, “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,” he said.