Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram jihadists, on Tuesday, launched an ambush against the convoy of the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, killing three persons.
Beside the dead, one soldier reportedly sustained serious injuries.
Shettima, a two-term governor, was travelling to Gamboru, headquarters of the Ngala local government area of the state, in furtherance of his campaign for Saturday’s senatorial election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The governor’s media team later shed more light on the attack through a press statement:
“Six vehicles in Governor Kashim Shettima’s convoy were on Tuesday evening ambushed by Boko Haram fighters along the road to a border town of Gamboru, headquarters of Ngala local government area of Borno State. Three persons died while a soldier sustained injuries,” the statement read
“Other persons fled and escaped unhurt. The insurgents carted away the six vehicles they attacked. The vehicles were the last part of the Governor’s convoy on their way to a political rally.
“Governor had passed before the insurgents who took advantage of the dust from desert area to launch attack. Information about the attack wasn’t confirmed until late night as those behind were thought to have also joined the rally since the convoy drove into the rally.
“The Governor passed the night in Gamboru after the rally. Gamboru was one of the areas occupied by Boko Haram before it was liberated by tough multinational forces from Chad.
“The Governor had departed Maiduguri on Tuesday morning, stopped over in Mafa and Dikwa local government areas for campaign rallies.
“On his way back on Wednesday, he stopped in Dikwa to meet with military commanders over the attack. He returned to Maiduguri past 7pm on Wednesday.”
