In Nigeria, a convoy of the American consulate was attacked on Tuesday, May 16th in the state of Anambra, in the south-east of the country. In total, four people were killed, and three others were kidnapped, according to the White House, which specified that none of the victims was American.
Two employees of the American consulate and two police officers who ensured the security of the convoy were killed by armed men. The assailants set fire to the bodies and their vehicle, then took two other police officers and a driver with them.
“No American citizen is concerned,” said John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council at the White House. Nigerian police said a rescue operation was launched by security forces in the Anambra area where the attack took place.
Several separatist groups are active in this region: police stations and government buildings are regularly set on fire. The authorities suspect the separatist movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) of being behind the violence. Ipob leader Nnamdi Kanu remains incarcerated in Abuja, since he was arrested and taken back to Nigeria in July 2021.