BOKO HARAM ATTACKS GOVERNOR’S CONVOY DURING CAMPAIGN TRIP

The Governor, said to be contesting for a Senatorial seat in Saturday’s election, is also the campaign Director General of his party’s Governorship candidate, Babagana Umara, while  sources close to the campaign council, said the convoy set out for Gamboru-Ngala late Tuesday evening with the plan to pass the night in the border town that was once under the control of Boko Haram.

Penpushing further reports that, the Governor’s  convoy, came under attack by the Boko Haram shortly after getting  to a village called Logomani, about 20km from Dikwa town. Some of the Civillian- Joint Task Force(JTF) operàtives, said  the gunmen operated on two gun trucks.

A member of the Civillian- Joint Task Force(JTF) operàtives, who often provide the largest number of security personnel on such trips,  said they thought the gunmen who packed by the road side were soldiers providing security for the Governor’s movement.

“They were all dressed as though they were soldiers and they packed their cars by the road side,” ,a  civillian-JTF operative said, while in the same vein,witnesses said the Boko Haram gunmen watched until more than half of the vehicles in the lengthy convoy, including that of the governor, had passed by before they drove out and joined the convoy as well.

“We thought they were soldiers and we even waved at them and one of them on the gun trucks waved back at us. The trucks they were driving bore the colour of military vehicles and they were putting on military fatigue”, the account has it

Penpushing also reports that, the civilian security operatives added that thereafter, the  Boko Haram attackers joined the convoy, and  continued to drive alongside other vehicles for about 5km before they suddenly increased speed ahead of the vehicles behind them.

“We noticed they increased speed and suddenly, the two vehicles spread to the sides of the road and began to open fire on oncoming vehicles. There was thick dust because the road was untarred. Everyone was running for dear life, including we the civillian-JTF.”

 “Three people including the soldier were killed and many persons were also missing. About 10 vehicles including patrol trucks of the civillian-JTF were also taken away by the ambushing gunmen. Two other corpse were found today (Wednesday) while many of those that went missing, including a Permanent Secretary, later showed up after wandering in the desert.”