THE Anambra State Police command said on Thursday that the victims of the attack on the US Consulate convoy were in the Ogbaru local government area of Anambra State to assess the impact of erosion in the area.
Ogbaru was one of the local government areas in Anambra State submerged during last year’s flood that eventually caused devastating erosion in most of the communities in the area.
Addressing reporters at the state Police headquarters in Awka, the Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng said information about the attack did not get to the command early.
The CP said: “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.
“On Wednesday, 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 Ogwuaneocha community of Ogbaru LGA, which was suspected to be the hideout of the assailants, but discovered that it had been deserted.
