Governorship Candidate’s Convoy Ambushed
OpenLife News reports that the convoy of Engr. Mustapha Gubio, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Borno State, was ambushed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Thursday evening.
The attack occurred as Gubio and his entourage were returning to Maiduguri after a thank-you visit to the border town of Damasak, about 190km north of the state capital.
Armoured Vehicle Hit By Landmine
A security source told journalists that insurgents had planted landmines along the Gubio-Kareto-Damasak highway.
“We entered Damasak safely and spent about 40 minutes there. On our way back, the insurgents planted mines on the road, and the armoured vehicle that led the convoy drove over it and exploded,” the source said.
The police armoured vehicle leading the convoy ran over an explosive device, triggering a massive blast that left it severely destroyed.
However, immediately after the explosion, the terrorists attempted to ambush the rest of the convoy.
A combined team of military personnel, police officers, and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) quickly engaged the attackers in a fierce gunfight and successfully repelled them.
“We had to park and take positions, waiting for the remaining vehicles in the convoy to arrive. In the course of waiting, we noticed the movement of the insurgents and swiftly engaged them,” the source added.
No casualties were recorded in the main convoy. The candidate was said to be unhurt.
The Gubio-Kareto-Damasak route is notorious for insurgent activity. It serves as a transit corridor for Boko Haram fighters moving from Lake Chad enclaves to Alagarma, Sambisa Forest, and parts of Yobe State.
Because of its strategic importance to terrorist logistics, the area remains one of the most dangerous zones in the insurgency, with constant threats of IEDs and sudden raids targeting both military and civilian vehicles.
Thursday’s attack highlights the persistent security risks facing political campaigns in Borno.
It also brings back memories of January 2011, when Modu Fannami Gubio, then ANPP governorship candidate, was shot and killed by gunmen in Maiduguri.
Efforts to reach the Borno Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Nahum Kenneth Daso, for official comment were unsuccessful as of press time.
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