APC Gubio Gubio Gubio Escapes Boko Haram Ambush – THIS UPDATE

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Borno State, Engr. Mustapha Gubio, narrowly escaped what could have been a major terrorist attack after suspected Boko Haram insurgents ambushed his convoy along the volatile Gubio-Kareto-Damasak highway.

The attack occurred on Thursday as Gubio and members of his entourage were returning to Maiduguri after a thank you visit to Damasak, the headquarters of Mobbar local government area in northern Borno.

The convoy was attacked along the Kareto axis, with suspected terrorists deploying improvised explosive devices and firearms against the security formation escorting the politician.

According to a security source, who remained anonymous, the insurgents had placed mines along the road waiting for the convoy to return from Damasak.

The source said an armored police vehicle leading the convoy hit one of the explosives, triggering a powerful explosion that severely damaged the vehicle.

“We entered Damasak safely and spent about 40 minutes there. On the way back, the insurgents planted mines on the road and the armored vehicle leading the convoy ran over it and exploded,” the source said.

The explosion was reportedly followed by an attempt by the insurgents to approach the convoy and launch a coordinated ambush.

Security personnel, however, quickly took up defensive positions and engaged the attackers before they could overrun the convoy.

“We had to park and take up positions, waiting for the convoy’s remaining vehicles to arrive. While waiting, we noticed the movement of the insurgents and quickly attacked them,” another source said.

Reports from the scene indicated that the attackers also used rocket-propelled grenades and sporadic gunfire during the assault.

The Force’s public relations officer, Ani Iniedu, who confirmed the attack, said tactical officers thwarted suspected terrorists who attacked the convoy.

He said the attackers were forced to retreat while security personnel scanned and cleared the surrounding area of ​​possible secondary explosives.

Police said the convoy, carrying a gubernatorial candidate, government officials and political stakeholders, was safely evacuated to a safe location and that no casualties were reported among members of the entourage.

Although Gubio and his entourage escaped unharmed, the armored police vehicle suffered extensive damage from the explosion.

Damasak, a border town about 190 kilometers from Maiduguri, has remained one of the main flashpoints of the state’s protracted insurgency.

The Gubio–Kareto–Damasak road is considered one of the most dangerous routes in northern Borno due to its strategic location and its proximity to areas where rebel groups have historically operated.

The corridor provides connectivity between communities around Lake Chad and other areas of Borno and neighboring Yobe State. Security assessments have repeatedly identified the wider area as vulnerable to roadside IED attacks, ambushes and terrorist movements.