The Borno State Police Command has confirmed a Boko Haram attack on the APC convoy of the party’s governorship candidate, Mustapha Gubio.
The attack occurred on Thursday along the Gubio-Kareto-Damasak highway in northern Borno State.
Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Keneth Daso, confirmed the incident on Friday.
According to Daso, the convoy came under heavy attack around Kareto community at about 2:30pm.
Daso said a combined team of security agencies responded swiftly to the attack. The team included personnel from the police, military, NSCDC, DSS and Civilian Joint Task Force.
Vigilante groups also participated in repelling the attackers.
“Yes, the convoy of the gubernatorial candidate of the APC, Engineer Mustapha Gubio, came under heavy attack around Kareto community at about 2:30pm, but was swiftly repelled by a combined team of our security forces including Police, soldiers, NSCDC, DSS, CTJF and vigilante groups.”
He said the terrorists had laid an ambush along the highway.
According to him, Improvised Explosive Devices were planted to target the convoy.
The attackers also fired several Rocket Propelled Grenades during the assault. However, security forces successfully repelled the terrorists.
Daso said there were no casualties among security personnel or civilians during the encounter.
“The terrorists laid ambush with planted Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) targeting the convoy and also fired several Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) but they were repelled with no casualty recorded from the side of the security forces or civilians.”
The Boko Haram attack on the APC convoy occurred as the delegation travelled towards Maiduguri. The convoy was returning from Damasak after Gubio visited APC members.
The visit was reportedly to thank party members for their support during the party’s recent primary election.
Their support contributed to Gubio emerging as the APC’s consensus governorship candidate.
Meanwhile, sources told Vanguard that a police armoured vehicle in the convoy was damaged during the encounter.
Damasak, where the convoy had earlier visited, is about 156 kilometres by road from Maiduguri. The area has previously witnessed several Boko Haram attacks.
The latest incident again highlights the security challenges along major routes in northern Borno.
However, police authorities said the coordinated response prevented casualties among the convoy members, civilians and security personnel.
