Four staff of the United States Embassy in Nigeria were reported to have been shot dead in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State as Gunmen opened fire on their convoy.

According to reports from Daily Trust, the convoy of the embassy officials came under fire as they were passing through the area.

A source said they were on a humanitarian mission to the area while another source said the attacked officials wanted to connect their destination through Ogbaru.

“At least four persons were killed in the attack while others sustained injuries. Troops have taken over the community,” a security source told Daily Trust.

Details of the attack were not available as of the time of filing this report, but DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra, confirmed the incident.

However, he did not go into detail.

“Following the information of the shooting incident within the Ogbaru community, the Commissioner of Police CP Echeng Echeng has deployed a police team led by the deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations to arrest the situation.

“Meanwhile, the details of the incident are still sketchy, I will get back to you as soon as I can, please.”

Ikenga ceased subsequent communication with Daily Trust on the issue as he neither responded to calls nor replied to further messages.

The US mission in Nigeria also confirmed the incident, saying its personnel were collaborating with Nigerian security operatives to get to the root of the matter.

“We confirm there was an incident on May 16 in Anambra state. U.S. Mission Nigeria personnel are working with Nigerian security services to investigate. The security of our personnel is always paramount, and we take extensive precautions when organizing trips to the field. We have no further comment at this time,” a US Mission Nigeria spokesperson said in response to Daily Trust inquiry.

The White House in the United States through John Francis Kirby – US National Security Council Spokesperson has also reacted to the incident.

“I just got informed about a whole lot before coming out here to talk to you all. Just looks like a US convoy vehicle was attacked.

What I can tell you is that no US citizens were involved and therefore there was no US citizens hurt. But we are aware of some casualties perhaps even some killed”. He said.