Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have attacked the convoy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Borno State, Mustapha Gubio, during a campaign-related visit in the northern part of the state.
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The incident occurred on Thursday along the Gubio-Kareto-Damasak highway as Gubio and members of his team travelled to Mobbar Local Government Area for a thank-you visit to party members.
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The visit was organised to appreciate APC supporters for their role in his emergence as the party’s consensus governorship candidate during its recent primary election.
The convoy reportedly came under heavy attack around the Kareto community at about 2:30pm. The attackers were said to have used rocket-propelled grenades and firearms during the assault.
Security personnel attached to the convoy, including soldiers, police officers, personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services, Civilian Joint Task Force, vigilantes and other security operatives, responded to the attack.
The combined security team was able to repel the terrorists and prevent them from advancing towards the convoy.
A member of the entourage who escaped the attack said the incident caused panic among those travelling with the candidate. The source said the terrorists launched several attacks on the convoy before security operatives responded.
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The attack reportedly caused damage to some police armoured vehicles. However, no death was recorded among the candidate, his entourage or the security personnel involved in the operation.
The Borno State Police Command also confirmed the incident, saying its tactical operatives engaged suspected terrorists who attacked the convoy along the Kareto-Damasak road.
According to the police, the attackers used an improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenades during the assault.
The security operatives forced the terrorists to withdraw into the surrounding bushes before moving to secure the area. The immediate section of the road was subsequently searched to detect and remove any possible secondary explosives that could pose another danger to motorists and security personnel.
The convoy, which was carrying Gubio, government officials and other political stakeholders, was eventually evacuated to a secure location.
The police said no member of the entourage was killed in the attack.
The incident comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship election continue to gather momentum in Borno State, with political candidates and their supporters increasingly travelling across different parts of the state to mobilise support.
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