Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The White House has stated that no American citizen was killed during an attack on US embassy staff in Anambra State on Tuesday.
Reports said there was an attack in Anambra State late Tuesday that claimed the lives of four staff members from the US Embassy in Nigeria.
The victims were shot dead during an ambush in the Amiyi/Eke Ochuche communities of Ogbaru Local Government Area.
Addressing a press briefing, national security council Spokesperson, John Kirby, said no US citizen was harmed.
“I just got informed about a whole lot before coming out here to talk to you all. It does look like a US convoy vehicle was attacked,” Kirby said.
“What I can tell you is that no US citizens were involved and therefore, there were no US citizens hurt.
“But we are aware of some casualties, perhaps even some killed but I don’t want to get too far ahead of where we are right now.”
Kirby added that the State Department was looking into the issue.
The spokesman of the Anambra State Police Command, Ikenga Tochukwu, had said that gunmen attacked the convoy conveying staff of the US consulate on Tuesday.
Tochukwu said two police operatives were killed alongside two staff of the consulate.
“The bodies of the victims were set ablaze by the gunmen,” he added.