Two American consulate staffers in Nigeria were killed and their bodies were set ablaze after individuals linked to criminal groups attacked an American convoy Tuesday, the State Department said.
The staff members were not U.S. citizens and have not been identified. But U.S. officials did say they were attacked by individuals “linked with criminal groups” in the southeast of the country, according to ABC News.
BREAKING – DEADLY: The attack on US convoy in #Nigeria today killed four people, including two personnel from the US consulate and two police officers, US officials have confirmed after @whitehouse John Kirby tried to downplay it by saying that no US citizens were not hurt. Well,… pic.twitter.com/NE2KPUDJNb
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) May 16, 2023
Two other individuals, members of the local Police Mobile Force, were also killed in the attack. Nigerian police officials said the victims bodies were set on fire after the killings.
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said during a White House briefing that no U.S. citizens were killed or hurt during the incident. He did add that the State Department is investigating what exactly happened.
The attack occurred around 3:30 p.m. in Anambra State. (RELATED: These Countries Evacuated Americans From Sudan While The Biden Admin Sat On The Sideline)
Nigeria has been plagued by violence and terror activity in recent years. A series of reports from Reuters last year exposed that the country’s army had been guilty of murdering children and forcing women into having unwanted abortions as it fought against terrorist organization Boko Haram.