Deadly Attack: Police blame U.S. Embassy for not requesting security clearance before entering Anambra
Peoples GazetteMay 17, 2023
On Tuesday, gunmen attacked a convoy of US embassy staff near the town of Atani in Nigeria’s southeastern Anambra State, killing four people and abducting three others, according to local police and US officials.
There were no US citizens in the convoy, which was on a humanitarian mission, the Anambra Police Command said, announcing that the gunmen killed two mobile police officers and two consulate employees before setting their bodies and vehicles ablaze.
The horrific assault once again highlights the enormous challenges facing Nigeria's security authorities. However, while the motive for this attack remains unclear, the US Embassy needs to answer the obvious question of why it allowed a convoy on a humanitarian mission to enter violence-torn Anambra without consulting local police or any security agency. Such negligent actions hamper the battle against insurgents in the country.
The tragic incident must be fully investigated by Nigeria's authorities but will have no lasting impact on the close US-Nigeria relations. Rather, Washington stands ready to further strengthen mutually beneficial ties with the new Bola Tinubu administration. Nigeria deserves inclusive leadership that takes into account the interests of all its citizens, and comprehensive bilateral security cooperation will contribute to the country's stability and prosperity.
The latest attacks illustrate that Nigeria's incoming government under Tinubu, a Muslim from the northeast, will face daunting challenges in managing various armed conflicts and deep societal divisions. While ethnic and religious tensions in the north-central region are likely to intensify, violence in the north is more likely to diminish, whereas Biafra separatists are set to continue their armed campaign for independence in the southeast. The security crisis will continue to shape Nigeria's future.