The convoy of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Borno State, Mustapha Gubio, came under attack by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.
The incident occurred along the Gubio-Kareto-Damasak highway in northern Borno as Gubio and members of his campaign team travelled to Mobbar Local Government Area for a thank-you visit to APC supporters following his emergence as the party’s consensus candidate.
Sources said the convoy was attacked around the Kareto community at about 2:30pm, with the assailants reportedly firing rocket-propelled grenades, RPGs, and opening sporadic gunfire at the vehicles.
The attack was met with resistance from a combined security team comprising soldiers, police officers, personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Department of State Services, DSS, Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, and local vigilantes.
An insider who escaped the attack described the incident as frightening, saying the convoy came under heavy assault from the attackers.
The source said some police armoured vehicles were damaged during the confrontation, but no casualties were recorded.
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The Force Public Relations Officer, Ani Iniedu, on Friday confirmed the attack, saying police tactical operatives engaged suspected terrorists who targeted the convoy along the Kareto-Damasak Road.
According to Iniedu, the attackers used an improvised explosive device, IED, and RPGs during the assault before the security team forced them to retreat into the surrounding bush.
He added that the tactical operatives subsequently searched and cleared the area to guard against possible secondary explosive threats.
Iniedu said the convoy, which included the APC governorship candidate, government officials and other political stakeholders, was successfully evacuated to a secure location.
The police spokesperson confirmed that no member of the entourage was killed or injured during the attack.
The incident comes amid continuing security concerns in parts of Borno, where terrorist groups have carried out attacks on roads and communities despite sustained military and security operations.
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