An attack on the convoy of Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State by Boko Haram on Saturday has led to the death of one police officer while six others were reportedly injured.
The terrorists were said to have fired at the security operatives who were returning official vehicles belonging to the governor, from Maiduguri to Damaturu, after attending the 24th Convocation ceremony of the University of Maiduguri.
Mr Buni had joined other dignitaries in Maiduguri to attend the ceremony, where Vice-President Kashim Shettima was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree.
While the governor stayed behind in Maiduguri ahead of a trip to Abuja for another official engagement, his escorts returned to Yobe, but on their way, they reportedly came under fire between the troubled spot of the Jakana – Mainok expressway.
A source was quoted by The Punch as saying that the terrorists targeted the “troops leading the convoy with MRAP, a Gun Truck and another vehicle conveying the Police and DSS were targetted.
“Consequently, the troops responded with heavy fire, forcing the terrorists to retreat. Unfortunately, one Police officer paid the supreme price, even as two soldiers, including a driver and four policemen, were wounded.
“Terrorist casualties were unconfirmed as of press time.
“The security operatives returned safely to Damaturu, the Yobe state capital, while the wounded personnel and the driver were evacuated to an undisclosed hospital for treatment,” the source said.
Confirming the attack, the director general of media and press affairs to the governor, Mohammed Mamman, insisted that only three security personnel were injured in the ambush by the terrorists.
He said, “They fired some shots but the security escorting the governor’s official vehicles back to Damaturu exchanged fire with them, but three policemen sustained injury,” adding that the security operatives were able to repel the attack and that those injured were responding to treatment.
