The Police announced yesterday that their specialized tactical unit successfully thwarted an attack by suspected terrorists targeting the convoy of Alhaji Mustapha Gubio, the APC gubernatorial candidate in Borno State, during an operation on Thursday.
Gubio was escorted by a coalition of political leaders and security officials when the assault occurred along the remote Kareto-Damasak road in Borno.
According to police reports, the terrorists employed improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) in their assault. "The tactical team quickly responded, forcing the militants to retreat into dense bushland, then systematically scanned and cleared the surrounding area to neutralize potential secondary explosive devices," the police explained.
The security forces conducted a thorough search to identify and disarm any remaining threats before escorting the convoy to a secure location. The police further stated, "The convoy, which included the gubernatorial candidate, government officials, and political stakeholders, was evacuated without any injuries or fatalities among its members."
The route from Gubio to Kareto and Damasak is considered a strategic transit corridor frequently used by Boko Haram insurgents moving from their bases near Lake Chad toward areas like Alagarma, the Sambisa Forest, and the Yobe State border.
Clashes between Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have resulted in approximately 23 fatalities in recent encounters within the dense Sambisa Forest region.
Correspondent Zagazola Makama, who reports extensively on the conflict, noted that the recent clash occurred in the Chingolo area of Bama Local Government Area, where Boko Haram fighters attacked ISWAP members, accusing them of encroaching on their territory.
He cited security sources indicating that the firefight was part of ongoing hostilities that had escalated earlier in the week, reflecting the volatile dynamics of the insurgency in northeastern Nigeria.
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