Lead StoryLocalNewsSecurity Report
Boko Haram ambush, shoot at Gov. Shettima’s convoy; Kill 3; Cart away many vehicles
By Abdullahi Isah Maiduguri
Boko Haram terrorists have shot dead three persons, while many vehicles were seized when they ambushed Governor Kashim Shettima’s of Borno state’s convoy along Maiduguri Gamboru road. The governor was on campaign tour to the area to canvass support for All Progressives Congress, (APC) candidates ahead of the 2019 general elections.
A security source who does not want his name in print said “the insurgents allowed the Governor’s vehicles to pass, only to ambush the vehicles left behind and slaughtered three persons.”
He said ” after ambushing the convey, the insurgents were said to slaughtered three persons, while unspecified others were said to have been injured, as the insurgents avoided using guns in order not to attract the security operatives in the convoy.”
The incident was said to have occurred on Wednesday when the governor was on campaign visit to Mafa, Dikwa, Ngala and Kala Balge local government areas of the state.
Shettima who left Maiduguri on Tuesday was said to have spent the night in Gamboru, where he also crossed over to Cameroun to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who were recently displaced by Boko Haram in Rann, the headquarters of Kala Balge and who are taking refuge in Cameroon.
A survivor, Mustapha Mohammed said the incident came in uniform and intercepted Governor Kashim Shettima’s convoy of over 100 vehicles killing a Civilian JTF member, who was shot on the head and two other persons, and carted away two vehicles belonging to CJTF..
The insurgents were also said to have seized 8 Vehicles carrying people including a permanent secretary to the state government, district heads from Rann, Dikwa, including the two vehicles of CJTF members, as well as those of businessmen and party supporters.
Another eye witness, Mohammed Jidda said,” the insurgents intercepted the long queue of vehicles in the governor’s convoy, while those of us close to the scene escaped death by immediately making a u-turn back to Dikwa. On our way back to Dikwa, the military refused to open the gate at Gajibo and we had to pass the night with the military at the gate who gave us cover.
Also confirming the incident, a member of CJTF, Grems Yerima said “on hearing the sound of gunshots and flashing light in the dark, we took to our heels and met up with other vehicles.
“But unfortunately for one one of our colleagues called Yellow, he could not make it as we jumped into the Governor’s Press Crew bus,” Yerima said.
He said said,” we are presently worried about our colleague that we came together with. We don’t know what to tell his family. We came with four vehicles but now have only two, as the other two have been carted away by the insurgents.”
Our correspondent learnt that due to the incident many vehicles while scampering for safety were involved in accidents, while several others over heated.
