The convoy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Borno State, Engr. Mustapha Gubio, was reportedly attacked by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Thursday evening.
The incident occurred as Gubio and members of his entourage were returning to Maiduguri after a thank-you visit to Damasak, a border town in northern Borno State located about 190 kilometres from the state capital.
According to security sources, suspected insurgents planted improvised explosive devices along the Gubio-Kareto-Damasak highway, targeting the convoy.
A security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a police armoured vehicle leading the convoy drove over one of the explosives, triggering a powerful 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.
The explosion was reportedly followed by an attempt by the insurgents to ambush the convoy.
However, security personnel comprising soldiers, police officers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) reportedly responded swiftly and engaged the attackers in a gun battle.
“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.
The security operatives were said to have repelled the attackers, preventing further damage to the convoy and its occupants.
The police armoured vehicle, however, reportedly sustained extensive damage from the explosion.
The Gubio-Kareto-Damasak highway is regarded as one of the most dangerous routes in Borno State due to persistent insurgent activity.
The strategic corridor provides access between areas around the Lake Chad basin and other parts of Borno and neighbouring Yobe State, making it an important route for insurgent movements.
Travellers and security personnel using the road have frequently faced the threat of improvised explosive devices, ambushes and sudden attacks.
Thursday’s incident has again highlighted the security challenges confronting political activities and campaigns in Borno State ahead of the 2027 elections.
The attack also brought back memories of the assassination of Modu Fannami Gubio, an ANPP governorship candidate, who was killed by gunmen in Maiduguri in January 2011.
Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the Borno State Police Command were unsuccessful. The command’s spokesperson, DSP Nahum Kenneth Daso, reportedly did not answer calls or respond to text messages sent to his phone.
Editor’s note: The accompanying photograph is for illustrative purposes only.
