The convoy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Borno State, Mustapha Gubio, came under attack by suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Thursday.
The incident occurred along the Gubio–Kareto–Damasak highway in the northern part of the state while Gubio and his entourage were travelling to Mobbar Local Government Area.
The delegation was reportedly on a thank-you tour to appreciate APC members for their support following Gubio’s emergence as the party’s consensus candidate in its recent primary election.
Sources said the convoy was attacked around the Kareto community at about 2:30 p.m., with the terrorists reportedly firing rocket-propelled grenades and engaging the convoy in sporadic gunfire.
The attack was, however, repelled by 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 eyewitness who escaped the attack said the incident created a terrifying situation for members of the convoy.
According to the source, several RPGs were fired at the convoy during the attack, while some police armoured vehicles were damaged. However, no casualties were recorded.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Ani Iniedu, also confirmed the incident, stating that police tactical operatives successfully counter-engaged suspected terrorists who attacked the convoy with an improvised explosive device (IED) and rocket-propelled grenades.
Iniedu said the security team forced the attackers to retreat into the surrounding bush before scanning and clearing the area to guard against possible secondary explosives.
He added that the convoy, which was carrying the governorship aspirant, government officials and political stakeholders, was safely evacuated to a secure location, with no casualties recorded among members of the entourage.
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