THE convoy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Borno State, Engr. Mustapha Gubio, came under attack by suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Thursday, with explosions and gunshots reported along the Gubio-Kareto-Damasak highway.
According to sources, the incident occurred as Gubio and members of his entourage were returning to Maiduguri after a thank-you visit to the border town of Damasak. News Point Nigeria reports that the convoy was ambushed after the terrorists allegedly planted explosive devices along the volatile route.
A security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the insurgents planted landmines along the Gubio-Kareto-Damasak highway, with the police armoured vehicle leading the convoy unfortunately running over one of the explosive devices and triggering a blast.
Damasak, located in northern Borno, is about 190km from Maiduguri, the state capital, and the convoy had reportedly travelled there as part of Gubio’s ongoing engagements with APC members and supporters.
“We entered Damasak safely and spent about 40 minutes there. On our way back, the insurgents planted mines on the road, and the armoured vehicle that led the convoy drove over it and exploded,” the source said.
Following the explosion, the terrorists reportedly attempted to ambush the convoy, opening fire with multiple gunshots as the security vehicles and other members of the entourage came under attack.
However, a combined team of security operatives comprising military personnel, police officers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) swiftly responded, engaging the attackers in a fierce gunfight.
“We had to park and take positions, waiting for the remaining vehicles in the convoy to arrive. In the course of waiting, we noticed the movement of the insurgents and swiftly engaged them,” the source added.
The security operatives reportedly succeeded in repelling the attack and preventing further damage or casualties to the main convoy, although the police armoured vehicle suffered severe destruction from the bomb blast.
The Gubio-Kareto-Damasak route is a notoriously volatile corridor, serving as a transit route for Boko Haram insurgents moving from their Lake Chad enclaves towards Alagarma, the Sambisa Forest and parts of Yobe State.
Because of its strategic importance for terrorist logistics and movement, the area has long remained a dangerous hotspot for relentless ambushes targeting both military convoys and civilian travellers.
Commuters and security forces alike routinely navigate the treacherous route under the constant threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and sudden raids, cementing its status as one of the most perilous zones in the ongoing insurgency.
Thursday’s ambush underscores the persistent security challenges facing political figures and campaigns in Borno State. The incident has also evoked memories of past political violence in the region, notably the tragic January 2011 assassination of Modu Fannami Gubio, governorship candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), who was shot and killed by gunmen in Maiduguri.