Tension erupted in northern Borno on Thursday when suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists attacked the convoy of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Mustapha Gubio.
The convoy came under attack around 2:30pm along the Kareto-Damasak Road as Gubio and his team travelled to Damasak as part of an appreciation tour of northern Borno.
The attack, however, failed to stop the convoy from completing its journey, as security operatives fought back and forced the suspected terrorists to retreat into the surrounding bush.
Confirming the incident on Friday, Borno State Police spokesman, ASP Nahum Daso, said no member of the entourage was killed.
He said combined security forces successfully repelled the attackers, adding that the terrorists were believed to have escaped with at least one of them possibly suffering a gunshot injury.
Daso also confirmed that the convoy continued its journey after the attack.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, gave further details, saying the convoy included Gubio, government officials and political stakeholders.
According to him, police tactical operatives counter-engaged the suspected terrorists after they attacked the convoy with an improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenades.
Hundeyin said the security team forced the attackers to withdraw into the bush before scanning and clearing the area to prevent a secondary explosive attack.
He added that members of the convoy were safely evacuated to a secure location and that no casualty was recorded.
A source within the convoy described the attack as brief but potentially deadly, saying the situation could have resulted in casualties without the intervention of the security personnel.
The source confirmed that the attackers used an IED and rocket-propelled grenades, but said the security team quickly overpowered them.
After the area was scanned and declared safe, the convoy resumed its journey to Damasak.
FRESH SECURITY CONCERN
The attack highlights the continuing security challenge in northern Borno, an area that has remained a major theatre of insurgent activity since the Boko Haram conflict erupted more than a decade ago.
The Kareto-Damasak axis, like several parts of northern Borno, has witnessed attacks and ambushes by insurgents in the past, making movements along some routes particularly risky.
The latest incident also comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship election gather momentum in the state.
Despite the attack, Gubio and his entourage proceeded with their programme, while security agencies continued efforts to secure the area.
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