Suspected terrorists attack Borno APC governorship candidate’s convoy

Suspected terrorists on Thursday attacked the convoy of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Borno State, Mustapha Gubio, along the Kareto-Damasak Road in the northern part of the state.

The incident occurred around 2:30pm as Gubio and his team travelled to Damasak as part of an appreciation tour of northern Borno, according to findings by PUNCH Online.

Confirming the attack on Friday, the spokesman for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said no member of the entourage was killed.

He said the attack was repelled by combined security forces.

“Yesterday (Thursday) around 2:30pm, the convoy of the APC gubernatorial candidate was attacked along Kareto by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists. No lives were lost.

“But we believe that the terrorists may have escaped with a gunshot injury,” he added.

Daso also confirmed that the attack did not prevent the convoy from continuing its journey.

“After the incident, the convoy proceeded,” he stressed.

In a separate statement, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the convoy comprised the governorship candidate, government officials and political stakeholders.

He said, “Police tactical operatives successfully counter-engaged suspected terrorists who attacked a convoy along the Kareto–Damasak Road with an IED and rocket-propelled grenades.”

According to Hundeyin, the tactical team forced the attackers to retreat into the surrounding bush before scanning and clearing the immediate area to guard against secondary explosive threats.

He added, “They were safely evacuated to a secure location with no casualties recorded among members of the entourage.”

Sources in the convoy told PUNCH Online that the attack was brief but could have caused casualties without the intervention of security personnel.

One of the sources, who requested anonymity, said the attackers used an improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenades.

“The attack happened very briefly. The atmosphere later became calm and we proceeded to our destination,” the source said.

The source added, “The insurgents were overpowered by the security team. After the attack, police scanned and cleared the area before we proceeded.”