TheCable

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops foiled a terror attack on the convoy of Mai Mala Buni, Yobe governor, during the weekend. 

On Saturday, six security personnel attached to Buni were injured in an ambush by suspected Boko Haram fighters while returning to the state from Borno.

Buni had left for Abuja after the event, through the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base in Maiduguri, before the convoy was attacked. 

But the secretary to the Yobe state government and some other top officials, who were in the convoy, were said to be unhurt. 

Edward Buba, DHQ’s media operations director, said in a statement on Monday that troops of 29 task force brigade were dispatched to the scene of the attack before the victims were brought to safety.

Buba said the troops recovered the two vehicles affected in the incident.

He added that one military truck driver, four police escorts and one DSS operative wounded in the attack, are now in stable condition.

Buba said one of the injured police escorts died shortly upon arrival at the Specialists Hospital Damaturu.

“Reinforcement of troops from 29 Task Force Brigade led by the Brigade Commander are conducting fighting patrol in the area to locate the terrorists who carried out the dastardly act,” NAN quoted Buba as saying. 

“The two vehicles affected in the incident include one military MRAP and one civilian escort vehicle whose tyres were shot at during the incident, have been safely recovered to the military camp at Benisheikh.

“Operations are ongoing to hunt and destroy the terrorists that perpetrated the attack.”