In a brazen attack, suspected Boko Haram insurgents targeted the convoy of Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni along the Maiduguri-Damaturu Road, resulting in the tragic death of two policemen and injuries to two others.
The assault occurred on Saturday following the governor’s attendance at the 24th convocation of the University of Maiduguri in Borno State. Eyewitnesses, including a member of the entourage who spoke to Channels TV, revealed that the attackers ambushed the convoy between Beneshiekh and Mainok, a stretch of less than sixty kilometers to Damaturu.
The assailants, strategically positioned on both sides of the highway, specifically targeted the convoy’s pilot, unleashing a hail of gunfire. One policeman succumbed to gunshot wounds immediately, while another died later due to excessive bleeding. The incident occurred as the convoy, delayed until around 6:00 pm, was making its way back from Maiduguri.
Notably, Governor Buni was not present in the convoy during the attack, having traveled to Abuja for an official engagement. This marks the first instance of an attack on the Yobe State governor’s convoy since the onset of the Boko Haram insurgency 12 years ago.
The security situation in the region remains a concern, with this incident underscoring the persistent threat posed by insurgent groups in the area. Investigations are underway, and the state remains on high alert in the aftermath of this tragic ambush.
