The Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, narrowly escaped death on Saturday evening when suspected Boko Haram fighters ambushed his security convoy, killing one policeman and injuring six others, along the Jakana-Mainok expressway in Borno State.
It was learned that the security team was on the convoy that escorted the governor to Maiduguri for the 24th Convocation ceremony of the University of Maiduguri, where Vice President Kashim Shettima was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree.
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However, unknown to the terrorists, after the event, the security team returned to Yobe, but without the Governor, who stayed behind in Maiduguri preparing for another trip to Abuja for an official engagement.
Confirming the attack, the spokesman for the governor, Mamman Mohammed, said Governor Buni’s security details ran into the ambush.
“They fired some shots, but the security escorting the governor’s official vehicles back to Damaturu exchanged fire with them, but three policemen sustained injuries,” he disclosed.
He added that the security operatives could repel the attack and that those injured were responding to treatment.
Meanwhile, it is believed that the casualty figure suffered by the terrorists, though unconfirmed as of press time, was heavy.
After the attack, it was gathered that the security operatives returned safely to Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, while the wounded personnel and the driver were taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.