In a dramatic turn of events, two US embassy staff members who were kidnapped in Nigeria have been successfully rescued, according to local police. The rescue operation comes just days after a deadly attack on the same convoy, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals.
The incident took place on Tuesday in the Ogbaru district of southeastern Nigeria, an area that has been under curfew for safety reasons for the past year. Reports indicate that the assailants opened fire on the vehicles and set them ablaze, leaving the deceased unrecognizable.
While the identity of the gunmen remains unclear, some officials are pointing to Igbo separatist fighters affiliated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob), a group known to operate in the region. However, Ipob has not yet commented on the allegations.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who is set to leave office later this month, has vowed to track down and apprehend those responsible for the attack. His government, however, has faced criticism for its inability to effectively address Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that no US citizens were among the victims and stated that there are currently no indications suggesting that the attack specifically targeted the US mission in Nigeria.
Of the seven individuals killed in Tuesday’s attack, three were Nigerian staff members working at the US embassy, while the remaining four were security escorts. The identities of the two abducted individuals, who have since been released, have not been publicly disclosed by the police.
Anambra state police spokesman, Ikenga Tochukwu, has stated that ongoing operations are still underway, with further details to be provided in due course.
