Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State narrowly escaped an ambush by suspected Boko Haram fighters on Saturday evening along the Jakana-Mainok expressway in Borno State.
The attack resulted in the tragic death of one policeman and injuries to six others. The security team had accompanied the governor to the University of Maiduguri’s 24th Convocation ceremony, where Vice-President Kashim Shettima received an honorary doctorate degree.
Subsequently, the security team returned to Yobe without the governor, who stayed in Maiduguri for further official engagements and narrowly avoided the ambush.
Confirming the attack, the spokesman for the governor, Mamman Mohammed, said Governor Buni’s security details ran into the ambush.
“They fired some shots, but the security escorting the governor’s official vehicles back to Damaturu exchanged fire with them, but three policemen sustained injuries,” he disclosed.
However, a security source from the convoy informed The us that while the suspected Boko Haram terrorists targeted the Governor, they also had their eyes on some of the military and police sophisticated weapons and ammunition in the security convoy.
The source said, “The terrorists’ target and eyes were on the MRAP and the gun truck that the troops leading the convoy are equipped with. Because their arms and ammunition have been heavily depleted recently and they need new stock with the latest versions, that’s why they attacked the MRAP gun truck and another vehicle conveying the Police and DSS, which were targeted.
“As expected, our ever-prepared troops responded with heavy fire, forcing the terrorists to retreat. Unfortunately, one Police officer paid the supreme price, even as two soldiers, including a driver, three policemen, and a DSS personnel, were injured,” he disclosed further.
Meanwhile, it is believed that the casualty figure suffered by the terrorists, though unconfirmed as of press time, was heavy.
After the attack, it was gathered that the security operatives returned safely to Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, while the wounded personnel and the driver were taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment, “but some of the wounded are in critical condition,” the source added.
