The Borno State Police command has confirmed an attack on the convoy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Borno State, Engr Mustapha Gubio, along Gubio-Kareto-Damasak highway.
Daily Trust had reported that Gubio’s entourage was ambushed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Thursday, while returning to Maiduguri after a thank-you visit to the border town of Damasak, headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area
Confirming the incident, the spokesman of the Police, DSP Nahum Kenneth Daso, said the attack happened but no casualty was recorded
According to security sources, the incident, which occurred at around 4:00 PM, left an armoured personnel carrier belonging to the Nigeria police destroyed
One of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the insurgents had planted landmines along the Gubio-Kareto-Damasak highway
He said the police armoured vehicle leading the convoy unfortunately ran over one of the explosive devices, triggering a blast
“We entered Damasak safely and spent about 40 minutes there On our way back, the insurgents planted mines on the road, and the armoured vehicle that led the convoy drove over it and exploded,” the source said.
Following the explosion, the terrorists attempted to ambush the convoy
However, a combined team of gallant security operatives, comprising the military, police, and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), swiftly responded, engaging the attackers in a fierce gunfight
“We had to park and take positions, waiting for the remaining vehicles in the convoy to arrive In the course of waiting, we noticed the movement of the insurgents and swiftly engaged them,” the source added.
While the security operatives successfully repelled the attack and prevented further damage or casualties to the main convoy, the police armoured vehicle suffered severe destruction from the bomb blast
Earlier, Force Public Relations Officer, Headquarters, Ani Iniedu, said Mr Gubio convoy’s attack was foiled by police and other security operatives
“Police tactical operatives successfully counter-engaged suspected terrorists who attacked a convoy along the Kareto–Damasak Road with an IED and rocket-propelled grenades
“The tactical team forced the terrorists to retreat into the surrounding bush and subsequently scanned and cleared the immediate axis to neutralise secondary explosive threats
“The convoy, conveying a gubernatorial candidate, government officials and political stakeholders, was safely evacuated to a secure location with no casualties recorded among members of the entourage,” he explained
The Gubio-Kareto-Damasak route is a notoriously volatile corridor
It serves as a critical transit route for Boko Haram insurgents moving from their Lake Chad enclaves toward Alagarma, the Sambisa Forest, and parts of Yobe State
Because of its strategic importance for terrorist logistics and movement, the area has long remained a dangerous hotspot for relentless ambushes targeting both military convoys and civilian travelers
Commuters and security forces alike must routinely navigate the treacherous route under the constant threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and sudden raids, cementing its status as one of the most perilous zones in the ongoing insurgency
The incident has evoked memories of past political violence in the region, notably the tragic January 2011 assassination of Modu Fannami Gubio, a former governorship candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), who was shot and killed by gunmen in Maiduguri