Police Repel Terrorist Attack On Borno APC Guber Candidate’s Convoy

The police have said their tactical team repelled an attack by suspected terrorists on the convoy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Borno State, Alhaji Mustapha Gubio.

The attack occurred on Thursday along the Kareto-Damasak road in Borno State while Gubio and other political stakeholders were travelling through the area.

According to the police, the suspected terrorists attacked the convoy using improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenades.

The tactical team engaged the attackers and forced them to retreat into the surrounding bush.

“The tactical team forced the terrorists to retreat into the surrounding bush and subsequently scanned and cleared the immediate axis to neutralise secondary explosive threats,” the police said.

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The security personnel subsequently searched the area for additional explosives before evacuating the convoy to a secure location.

“The convoy, conveying a gubernatorial aspirant, government officials and political stakeholders, was safely evacuated to a secure location with no casualties recorded among members of the entourage,” the police said.

The Kareto-Damasak route is regarded as a transit corridor for Boko Haram insurgents moving from their Lake Chad enclaves towards Alagarma, the Sambisa Forest and parts of Yobe State.

The incident came amid renewed clashes between rival insurgent groups operating in the region.

About 23 fighters belonging to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province were reportedly killed in a confrontation in the Sambisa Forest.

Security analyst and conflict reporter, Zagazola Makama, reported that the clash occurred around the Chingolo axis of Bama Local Government Area.

According to the report, Boko Haram fighters attacked ISWAP members whom they believed had encroached on their territory.

Makama, quoting security sources, said the exchange of fire was a continuation of hostilities between the two groups that began earlier in the week.