Two suspects connected to the attack on American consular employees and their police escorts in the state have been detained, according to the Anambra State Police Command.
During a press conference on Thursday, the state’s commissioner of police, Echeng Echeng, acknowledged the development.
He said that a camp near the Ugwuaneocha community in the state’s Ogbaru Local Government Area had been attacked by a group of security forces, including police tactical units from the command, Nigerian Army troops, and Nigerian Navy personnel.
Echeng claimed that when security personnel entered the camp, which he identified as the hideaway of the attackers believed to be Indigenous People of Biafra and members of the Eastern Security Network, it was empty.
The CP identified the police officers as Inspectors Bukar Adams, Friday Morgan, Adam Andrew, and Emmanuel Lupata. It noted that four police officers and five members of the US consulate office were involved in the attack.
Echeng said, “As you are probably aware, on May 16, 2023, between 12 and 2 pm, along Atani/Osamela Road, in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, a team of officials from the Lagos Consulate of the United States of America and their police escorts were ambushed by suspected members of the Eastern Security Network and Indigenous people of Biafra.
“Anambra State Police Command learned about the event at around 2.30 p.m. through a representative of the embassy. As a result, an immediate joint team deployment of Mobile Policemen and Nigerian Navy forces stationed in Onitsha was made to the region.
When the combined security team arrived on the location of the event, the attackers were spotted and engaged in a shootout, but they were able to flee through a nearby woodland. On May 17, 2023, a camp in the Ugwuaneocha community of Ogbaru LGA that was thought to be the hideout of the attackers was raided by joint security forces made up of police tactical teams from the command, troops of the Nigerian Army, and members of the Nigerian Navy, but they found it to be deserted.
Echeng said that two people of interest who had been supporting the police investigation into the incident that resulted in the deaths of seven people had been detained.
“The criminal camp was razed down by the joint security team,” he continued. “The preliminary investigation conducted by the command, following the incident, revealed that five male officials from the US Consulate and four armed Mobile Police were traveling in a convoy of two vehicles when they were suddenly attacked by armed men who opened fire on them and their vehicles.
“Unfortunately, seven people were killed during the incident, including three consulate officials, four Mobile Police escorts, and two other diplomatic officials who have not yet been located. According to information from the USAID authority, the attackers included Jefferson Obayuwane (a retired DSS employee), Sunday Prince Ubong, Ekene Nweke, Hassan Etila, and Avwuvie Kaye Monday.
The CP reported that while the police command and other security agencies, working with the government of Anambra State, stepped up their search for and rescue of the missing officials, the bodies had been retrieved and placed in a morgue.
He thus pleaded with members of the public to please help the police by sharing any information they may have on the names and locations of the offenders.
Echeng stated, “I would like to use this opportunity to extend our condolences to the families and friends of the deceased as well as the USA Consul over this unfortunate tragedy on behalf of the Anambra State Police Command.
The state governor’s press secretary, Christian Aburime, also reacted, saying, “We assure our inhabitants and visitors of our continuous commitment to law and order. This incident, if anything, has given us more motivation, according to Echeng.
