In a harrowing incident on Saturday evening, the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, narrowly escaped an ambush by suspected Boko Haram fighters. The attack occurred along the Jakana-Mainok expressway in Borno State as the governor’s security convoy made its way back from Maiduguri.
The security team had initially accompanied Governor Buni to Maiduguri for the 24th Convocation ceremony of the University of Maiduguri, where Vice-President Kashim Shettima was honored with an honorary doctorate degree. After the event, the security team returned to Yobe, while the governor remained in Maiduguri for an upcoming official engagement in Abuja.
Confirming the attack, Governor Buni’s spokesman, Mamman Mohammed, stated that the security details accompanying the convoy engaged in a fierce exchange of fire with the assailants. Despite the intensity of the attack, the security forces managed to repel the ambush, with three policemen sustaining injuries. The injured personnel are reportedly responding well to treatment.
A source from the convoy revealed that the Boko Haram insurgents not only targeted Governor Buni but also sought to seize military and police weapons and ammunition. The terrorists focused their assault on the MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) and a gun truck, aiming to replenish their depleted arsenal with the latest weaponry.
In the face of heavy resistance from well-prepared troops, the attackers were forced to retreat. Tragically, one police officer paid the ultimate price, and two soldiers, including a driver, as well as a DSS personnel and three policemen, sustained injuries in the clash.
While the exact casualties among the terrorists remain unconfirmed, it is believed that they suffered significant losses. Following the attack, the security operatives safely returned to Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. The wounded personnel and the driver were transported to an undisclosed hospital for treatment, with some reported to be in critical condition.
The incident underscores the persistent security challenges faced by the region, with Boko Haram militants demonstrating their continued threat despite ongoing efforts to curb their activities.