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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Borno APC governor candidate escapes death after terrorist convoy ambush

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Mustapha Gubio, the APC’s Borno governorship candidate, escaped unharmed after suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters attacked his convoy on the Kareto-Damasak road.
  • The attack involved an improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenades, but security forces repelled the assault and reported no casualties.
  • Police said the convoy continued to its destination after the area was searched and cleared of possible secondary explosives.

Mustapha Gubio, the All Progressives Congress candidate for governor of Nigeria’s Borno State, narrowly escaped death when suspected terrorists ambushed his convoy on the Kareto-Damasak highway.

The attack happened very briefly. The atmosphere later became calm and we proceeded to our destination.

· Unnamed convoy sourceThe source described the attack and said the convoy continued after the immediate danger passed.

The convoy came under attack at about 2:30 p.m. on Thursday as Gubio and his team travelled to Damasak during an appreciation tour of the state. The attackers used an improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenades, according to police and people in the convoy.

A source in the convoy described the assault as brief, but said it could have been devastating if security personnel had not repelled it. Another person said security forces overpowered the attackers, then police scanned and cleared the area before the convoy continued.

When they were advancing fast towards us, the Armoured Personnel Carrier, which was at the forefront of the vehicle, provided cover. It was later burnt by an IED that it stepped on. However, there was no casualty.

· Unnamed security agentThe agent explained how the armoured vehicle protected the convoy during the assault.

A security agent said an Armoured Personnel Carrier at the front of the convoy provided cover when the attackers advanced during intense gunfire. The vehicle later caught fire after driving over an IED. No one in the convoy was injured.

On Thursday, around 2:30pm, the convoy of the APC governorship candidate was attacked along Kareto by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists. No life was lost. But we believe that the terrorists may have escaped with gunshot injuries.

· Nahum DasoThe Borno police spokesman confirmed the attack and reported no deaths.

Borno police spokesman Nahum Daso confirmed that no lives were lost. He said the suspected Boko Haram or ISWAP attackers may have escaped with gunshot injuries. Force spokesman Ani Iniedu said tactical police operatives forced the attackers to retreat into the surrounding bush and cleared the route of possible secondary explosive threats. The convoy, which included Gubio, government officials and political stakeholders, was safely evacuated and continued to its destination.

Police tactical operatives successfully counter-engaged suspected terrorists who attacked a convoy along the Kareto, Damasak Road with an IED and rocket-propelled grenades.

· Ani InieduThe Force Public Relations Officer described the security response.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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