BY SUNNY A. DAVID
The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed that two suspects have been arrested in connection with Tuesday’s attack on the US Consulate Convoy in Ogbaru Local Government Area.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the Police revealed that seven persons were killed in the assault. Of the seven, three were US Consulate officials and four were Mobile Police escorts.
Speaking on the development on Thursday, Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Echeng Echeng said a Joint Security Task Force comprising of Police Tactical Teams and troops of the Nigerian Army and Navy, raided the suspects’ hideout at Ugwuaneocha community within Ogbaru LGA.
He said ,”Yesterday – 17/05/2023, joint security forces comprising police tactical teams from the command and troops of the Nigerian Army as well as the Nigerian Navy raided a camp in Ugwuaneocha community of Ogbaru LGA, which was suspected to be the hideout of the assailants, but discovered that it had been deserted.
“Two persons of interest were arrested and they currently assisting the police in the investigation. The criminal camp was razed down by the joint security team”.
He noted that the preliminary investigation conducted by the command, following the incident, revealed that five male officials of the USA consulate and four armed Mobile Police escort from Lagos were involved.
According to him, they were on a mission to assess the impact of erosion in Ogbaru Local Government Area .
Echeng stated that why they were travelling in a convoy of two vehicles and suddenly they came under attack by armed men who targeted them with gunfire and set their vehicles ablaze.
“Regrettably, seven persons (including three of the consulate officials and four Mobile Police escorts) were murdered during the attack while two other officials of the consulate are yet to be found” he noted.
He gave the names of the deceased Police officers as follows Inspector Bukar Adams, Inspector Friday Morgan, Inspector Adam Andrew and Inspector Emmanuel Lupata and they were all from Squadron 23, Police Mobile Force, Lagos.
According to him, information from the USAID authority disclosed that five (5) of their staff and four Policemen were involved in the attack are:
The embassy staff are Jefferson Obayuwane (RTD DSS personnel), Sunday Prince Ubong, Ekene Nweke, Hassan Etila, Avwuvie Kaye Monday, Bukar . A. Kabuiki – (Police), Emmanuel Lukpata – (Police), Friday Morgan -(Police) and Adamu Andrew – (Police).
He said the Police suspected members of Eastern Security Network ESN/ Indigenous people of Braifa, IPOB to have carried out the attack.
Meanwhile, he said that , the remains of the deceased persons have all been recovered and deposited in a morgue while the State Police Command and other security agencies are working round-the-clock, in concert with the Government of Anambra State, to find and rescue the missing officials.
He called on the members of the public who can provide information about the identities and locations of the culprits, to kindly assist the police with such information timeously.
“On behalf of the Anambra State Police Command, I wish to seize this opportunity to condole the families and friends of the deceased persons as well as the USA Consul over this tragic incident.
“May I assure you all of the resolve and determination of the Command and other security agencies to track down the perpetrators of these heinous crimes and bring them to justice” he said.
