All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Borno State, Mustapha Gubio, escaped unharmed on Thursday after Boko Haram fighters attacked his convoy along the Kareto-Damasak Road in the northern part of the state.
The convoy was reportedly travelling to Mobbar Local Government Area as part of a thank-you visit to APC members who supported Gubio’s emergence as the party’s consensus governorship candidate when the attack occurred.
The attackers reportedly struck the convoy near Kareto community at about 2:30 p.m., using an improvised explosive device (IED) and rocket-propelled grenades before opening fire on the vehicles.
The sudden attack reportedly threw members of the convoy into panic as heavy gunfire erupted along the route.
Security personnel attached to the convoy, including soldiers, police officers, operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of State Services (DSS) personnel, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and vigilante groups, reportedly engaged the attackers.
The security personnel eventually repelled the attackers and forced them to retreat into the surrounding bush.
A source who was part of the trip described the incident as terrifying, saying the convoy came under heavy attack while travelling to Mobbar.
“It was a terrifying moment for us; we came under heavy attacks by terrorists,” the source said.
The source disclosed that the attackers fired several rocket-propelled grenades at the convoy before following the assault with sporadic gunfire.
The attack reportedly damaged some police armoured vehicles attached to the convoy, but no member of Gubio’s entourage was reported killed or injured.
Police spokesperson, Ani Iniedu, confirmed the attack, saying tactical operatives responded after terrorists targeted the convoy with an IED and rocket-propelled grenades.
“Police tactical operatives successfully counter-engaged suspected terrorists who attacked a convoy along the Kareto-Damasak Road with an IED and rocket-propelled grenades,” Iniedu said.
He explained that the security operatives forced the attackers to retreat into the surrounding bush before conducting a search and clearance operation around the area.
According to him, the operation was necessary to prevent possible secondary explosions and ensure that the route was safe before the convoy was moved to a secure location.
The police confirmed that Gubio, government officials and political stakeholders were among those travelling in the convoy when the attack occurred.
No casualty was recorded among members of the entourage, while security operatives secured the area and evacuated the convoy to safety.
The attack has again highlighted the persistent security challenges in parts of northern Borno, where Boko Haram and other armed groups have continued to threaten travellers, communities and security personnel despite ongoing military and other security operations.
The Kareto-Damasak axis remains one of the routes affected by the wider insecurity in the region, with attacks on travellers and security formations continuing to raise concerns over the safety of movement across remote parts of the state.
The incident also comes at a politically sensitive period as activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gradually intensify, with political candidates and their supporters increasingly travelling across communities to mobilise support.
Despite the intensity of Thursday’s attack, Gubio and other members of his entourage were eventually taken to safety, while security operatives continued efforts to secure the area and prevent any further attack.