JUST-IN: Terrorists Kill Borno Vigilante Commander, Others In Ambush

Suspected members of Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP), on Monday morning, ambushed a convoy of military troops and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), killing the chairman of CJTF, Alhaji Bukar Mandama and other vigilantes in Gubio local government area of Borno State.

LEADERSHIP gathered that another member of the CJTF, who sustained gunshot injury was evacuated from the scene and is now recieving treatment at the State Specialists Hospital in Maiduguri, the State capital.

It was further gathered from sources that some security personnel were affected in the ambush, as the sources stressed that five people were killed in the convoy including the vigilante Commander, Mandama.

The sources said some residents had earlier on Sunday sighted a Boko Haram/ISWAP convoy with two vehicles and motorcycles heading towards the Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) under construction at the outskirts of the town apparently to cause havoc, to which the military authorities in Gubio LGA mobilised and deployed troops with some men of the CJTF to provide adequate security for the facility.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that when troops arrived at the RUGA site on Sunday, they didn’t see any of the terrorists, and decided to take cover and pass the night at the facility.

“Unfortunately, while on their way back to the town on Monday morning, unknown to them that the terrorists had also laid ambush, the terrorists opened fire on the troops’ convoy, leading to the heavy casualties on the side of the security convoy,” the source added.

This is even as the sources said scores of the terrorists were also neutralised in the exchange of gunfire that ensued.

Confirming the incident, the executive chairman of Gubio LGA, Alhaji Bukar Sulum Zowo, said: “we woke up with a sad news this morning as Boko Haram killed our CJTF chairman, Alhaji Mandama and other members in a road ambush.”

Zowo disclosed this on Monday at the State Specialists Hospital, Maiduguri while offering assistance regarding payment of medical bills of the injured victims at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital.

He prayed God to grant eternal rest to the souls of the deceased, wishing those who sustained gunshot injuries quick recovery.

It could be recalled that in March this year, ISWAP terrorists invaded Gubio town and abducted the Principal Medical Officer of Gubio General Hospital, Dr Bulama, who is still in captivity till date.