By Kamsi Anayo
Anambra State Police Command has given an update on the May 16 attack on the US Consulate Convoy in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state, revealing that it has arrested three more suspects including a female in connection with the incident.
Recall that a team of officials from the US Consulate and their police escorts were ambushed on May 16 between 12:00 hours and 14:00 hours, along Atani/Osamela road in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State by hoodlums.
Commissioner of Police, Echeng Eworo Echeng had last week said that two suspects were arrested making it five suspects that have so far been arrested.
Echeng exclusively told our Correspondent on Wednesday in Awka that the suspects were already helping the police investigation, while efforts are on to unravel the cause of the incident.
He commended the efforts of a Joint Security Task Force comprising police tactical teams and troops of the Nigerian Army and Navy, who raided the suspects’ hideout at Ugwuaneocha community within Ogbaru LGA.
It would be recalled that seven persons were killed in the assault. Of the seven, three were US Consulate officials and four were Mobile Police escorts.
Those killed are Jefferson Obayuwane, retired Department of State Service (DSS) personnel; Sunday Ubong, Ekene Nweke, Hassan Etila, Avwuvie Kaye Monday, Bukar Kabuiki (Police), Emmanuel Lukpata (Police), Friday Morgan (Police) and Adamu Andrew (Police).
Preliminary investigation conducted by the Command revealed that five officials of the US Consulate and four armed mobile police escorts from Lagos, on a mission to assess the impact of erosion in Ogbaru Council, 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.
The police operatives were all of inspectorate rank and served at Squadron 23, Police Mobile Force, Lagos.
The CP said the arrested men have had their contacts traced through their phone conversation, and that the Command is gradually closing in on the killers.
It would also be recalled that officials of the Embassy of United States of America paid a courtesy call on the Navy Base, Onitsha, Anambra state as a follow up to the incident.
During the visit, the US delegation hailed the Navy for the the rescue of the two missing staff of the embassy by the Navy personnel in ogbaru.
The delegation, it was gathered was led by Mr Jim Suor, the regional security officer, US Consulate in Lagos.
