- By Halimah Olamide
“In the early hours of Friday, May 19, 2023, the joint security forces rescued unhurt the two remaining victims abducted during the attack on a US convoy attack along Atani/Osamela road in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Two of the staff of the United States Mission in Nigeria who were kidnapped by gunmen in Anambra state have been rescued.
NPO Reports gathered that the duo were rescued by men. of the Nigerian Police Force .
The state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a press release to journalists in Awka, on Friday.
Although their names and identities were not disclosed, but Ikenga said they were rescued unhurt by the joint security forces in the early hours of Friday.
“In the early hours of Friday, May 19, 2023, the joint security forces rescued unhurt the two remaining victims abducted during the attack on a US convoy attack along Atani/Osamela road in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.
“Operations are still ongoing and further details shall be communicated, please,” Ikenga added.
Recall that US Embassy convoy were attacked onAtani-Osamala Road, Ogbaru Local Government Area,leaving two Staff and policemen killed by yet-to-be identified assailants on May 16.
Governor Charles Soludosaid his administration had in the last one year worked very hard with gallant security forces to massively degrade criminality and restore law and order and could proudly assert that Anambra was currently one of the safest states in Nigeria.
He said the US embassy convoy incident in a remote Riverine community in Ogbaru local government was a reminder that patches of these criminal gangs could still unleash senseless and murderous acts.
He vowed that the Anambra government would actively work with security agencies to smoke out the criminals and bring them to justice.
“Only two weeks ago, the dreaded and notorious criminal gang leader, operating mostly in a neighboring state, was gunned down with four of his team members when they made incursions into Anambra and recovered huge deadly weapons.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday in Awka, Mr Echeng Echeng, the commissioner of Police, had said seven people have been confirmed killed in the attack while two officials of the US consulate were still missing.
“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 said. slain officers as Bukar Adams, Friday Morgan, Adam Andrew, and Emmanuel Lupata – all inspectors from Squadron 23, Police Mobile Force, Lagos State, South-west Nigeria.
He told newsmen theUnited States Agency for International Development (USAID)has informed the police that apart from the four officers, five staff members of the agency were victims of the attack. Nigerian Officials of the USAID who were killed in the attacks include Jefferson Obayuwane, Sunday Prince Ubong, Ekene Nweke, Hassan Etila and Avwuvie Kaye Monday. “Meanwhile, the remains of the deceased persons have all been recovered and deposited at St. Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha while thepoliceand other security agencies are working round-the-clock, in concert with the Government of Anambra State, to find and rescue the missing officials,” he said.