The convoy of Mustapha Gubio, the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Borno State, was attacked by suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Thursday.
The incident occurred along the Gubio-Karote-Damasak highway in the northern part of the state, according to sources.
Gubio and members of his campaign team were travelling to Mobbar, headquarters of Damasak Local Government Area, for a thank-you visit to APC members following his emergence as the party’s consensus candidate in its recent primary election.
Sources said the convoy came under heavy attack around Kareto community at about 2:30pm.
The attackers reportedly fired several rocket-propelled grenades, RPGs, and opened sporadic gunfire at the convoy.
The attack was, however, repelled by a combined team of security personnel comprising soldiers, police officers, personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Department of State Services, DSS, Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, and vigilantes.
An insider who escaped the attack described the incident as terrifying, saying the convoy came under heavy assault by the terrorists.
According to the source, some police armoured vehicles were damaged during the attack, but no casualties were recorded.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Ani Iniedu, confirmed the incident.
In a statement, Iniedu said police tactical operatives counter-engaged suspected terrorists who attacked the convoy along the Kareto-Damasak Road with an improvised explosive device, IED, and RPGs.
He said the tactical team forced the attackers to retreat into the surrounding bush and subsequently scanned and cleared the area to prevent secondary explosive threats.
The police spokesperson added that the convoy, which conveyed the APC governorship candidate, government officials and other political stakeholders, was safely evacuated to a secure location.
He said no member of the entourage was killed or injured in the attack.
