The convoy carrying policemen attached to a yet-to-be-identified presidential aspirant of the ruling All Progressives Congress was attacked by fighters of the Islamic
State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jam’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihd, Hotmedia.ng learnt.
According to reports, the terrorists ambushed the convoy along the Maiduguri-Damaturu Road when it was traveling from Abuja to Maiduguri for a presidential campaign.
The incident reportedly happened at Goni Matari village, Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State on Sunday.
Former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu; Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Tein T.S. Jack-Rich, all presidential aspirants of the APC were in Borno during the weekend.
“The officers were from Abuja, not Borno command. They were attached to one of the presidential aspirants visiting Borno on Sunday but I can’t confirm which of the aspirants (was involved) currently.
“The insurgents also burnt two patrol vehicles they were travelling in. Two of the policemen died on the spot while one died later at the hospital. Four others are currently hospitalised,” a police source told our correspondent.
Meanwhile, ISWAP has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The group, however, said 7 policemen were killed during the ambush.
Boko Haram and its offshoot, ISWAP have been ferocious.
The Nigerian Army has repeatedly claimed that the insurgency has been largely defeated.
The terror group has caused over 100,000 deaths and displaced millions of individuals mainly in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
