Landmine blast hits APC governorship candidate’s convoy in Borno

A police armoured vehicle attached to the convoy of the APC governorship candidate in Borno State, Mustapha Gubio, was badly damaged after it reportedly detonated a landmine planted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

The incident happened on Thursday evening along the Gubio-Kareto-Damasak highway as Gubio and his entourage travelled back to Maiduguri after a visit to Damasak.

A security source who spoke anonymously said the convoy had completed its engagement in Damasak and was on its return journey when the leading armoured vehicle ran over the explosive device.

“We entered Damasak safely and spent about 40 minutes there. On our way back, the insurgents planted mines on the road, and the armoured vehicle that led the convoy drove over it and exploded,” the source said.

The explosion was reportedly followed by an attempt by the insurgents to attack the convoy.

Security personnel comprising soldiers, police officers and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members reportedly responded by taking up positions and engaging the suspected terrorists.

“We had to park and take positions, waiting for the remaining vehicles in the convoy to arrive. In the course of waiting, we noticed the movement of the insurgents and swiftly engaged them,” the source said.

The security team was said to have repelled the attackers before they could advance towards the main convoy.

The blast, however, left the police armoured vehicle severely damaged. No casualty was immediately reported among Gubio, his entourage or other members of the convoy.

Damasak, a border town in northern Borno, is located about 190 kilometres from Maiduguri. The route connecting Gubio, Kareto and Damasak has remained one of the state’s major security flashpoints because of persistent insurgent activity.

The highway is considered strategically important to insurgents operating around the Lake Chad region, with security sources linking the corridor to movements towards Alagarno, Sambisa Forest and parts of Yobe State.

Travellers using the route have consequently remained exposed to attacks, including roadside explosions and ambushes by suspected insurgents.

The latest incident has again raised concerns over the security of political activities in Borno as parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections.

It also brings back memories of the assassination of Modu Fannami Gubio, who was the ANPP governorship candidate in Borno in 2011. He was killed by gunmen in Maiduguri in January of that year.

The Borno State Police Command had yet to officially confirm the latest incident as of the time of filing this report.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Nahum Kenneth Daso, could not be reached for comment, as calls and text messages sent to him were unanswered.