Awka – Police in Anambra State on Thursday confirmed that seven persons, were actually killed during the May 16 gun attack on a team of US officials on Atani/Osamela road in Ogbaru Local Government Area the state.
The state Commissioner of police, Echeng Echeng disclised this to newsmen in Awka.
He said that three embassy officials and four mobile police officers were killed in the attack
Echeng said two embassy officials are still missing as at the time of this report.
The Commissioner said three embassy officials and four mobile police officers were killed in the attack.
He said that the US team was going to a community to assess the impact of erosion when they came under hun attack.
This disclosure by police has put paid to earlier report that four persons, two embassy staff and two policemen were killed in the attack.
Echeng said no US citizen was killed in the attack.
He gave the names of deceased police officers as Inspr. Bukar Adams, Inspr. Friday Morgan, Inspr. Adam Andrew and Inspr. Emmanuel Lupata, saying that they were from Squadron 23, Police Mobile Force, Lagos.
Full text of the speech delivered by the Police Commissioner ; “A PRESS BRIEFING BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, ANAMBRA STATE COMMAND, CP ECHENG E. ECHENG ON THE AMBUSH OF A USA CONSULATE CONVOY ON 16/05/2023, IN OGBARU LGA OF ANAMBRA STATE HELD AT THE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, AWKA ON 18/05/2023.
“Gentlemen of the Press…
“As you are probably aware, a team of officials from the Lagos Consulate of the United States of America and their police escorts (USA) were ambushed on 16/05/2023 between 12:00hours and 14:00hours, along Atani/Osamela road in Ogbaru Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State by suspected Eastern Security Network ESN/ Indigenous people of Braifa, IPOB.
” Information about the incident was received by Anambra State Police Command, through an official of the consulate, at about 14:30 hours. Consequently, a joint team of Mobile Policemen and troops of the Nigerian Navy stationed in Onitsha was immediately deployed to the area. Upon arrival at the scene of the incident, the joint security team sighted and engaged the assailants in a shot-out but they escaped through a nearby forest.
” 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.
“The preliminary investigation conducted by the command, following the incident, revealed that five male officials of the USA consulate and four armed Mobile Police escorted from Lagos on a mission to assess the impact of erosion in Ogbaru LGA were travelling in a convoy of two vehicles when they suddenly 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.
“The deceased police officers include *Inspr. Bukar Adams, Inspr. Friday Morgan, Inspr. Adam Andrew and Inspr. Emmanuel Lupata* all of Squadron 23, Police Mobile Force, Lagos. _No USA citizen was amongst the casualties._
” Information from the USAID authority disclosed that five (5) of their staff and four policemen were involved in the attack 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)
Adamu Andrew – (Police)
” Meanwhile, 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. In this regard, I call on 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,” Echeng said. (vitalnewsngr.com)
