Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have attacked the convoy of Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni along Maiduguri-Dramaturu Road, killing two soldiers and injuring four others.
The attack took place on Saturday after the governor attended the 24th convocation of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State.
According to an eyewitness, who was on the entourage but spoke on the condition of anonymity, the attackers opened fire on the convoy from both sides of the highway, targeting the pilot.
“We narrowly escaped death today. The convoy was attacked between Beneshiekh and Mainok, a distance of less than sixty kilometres to Damaturu after attending the 24th convocation of the University of Maiduguri.
“The insurgents opened fire on the convoy from both sides of the road, killing one security escort instantly while the other died later due to too much bleeding following bullet wounds. As a matter of fact, we left Maiduguri late, around 6.00 pm,” he said.
Governor Buni was absent in the convoy when the incident happened on their way back to Damaturu the state capital. He was said to have travelled to Abuja for an official function.
This is the first time the convoy of the Yobe State governor has been attacked since the commencement of the Boko Haram insurgency 12 years ago.
The governor and members of his entourage, who were accompanied by Borno State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, however, departed to Abuja by air through the Air Force Base in Maiduguri.
Intelligence sources revealed to Zagazola Makama, a Counter-Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad region, that the security vehicles in the convoy of the governor came under attack from the Boko Haram terrorists between Jakana and Mainok highway.
The sources said that troops leading the convoy with MRAP, a gun truck and another vehicle conveying the Police and DSS personnel were shot at by the terrorists
“Consequently, the troops responded with heavy fire, forcing the terrorists to retreat. Unfortunately, two soldiers, including a driver and four policemen were wounded. The terrorists’ casualties were unconfirmed.
“The security operatives returned safely to Yobe while the wounded personnel were taken to the hospital for treatment,” Makama quoted the sources as saying following the Boko Haram attack on the convoy of the governor.
