At least 57 policemen fled while two were killed when
suspected Boko Haram insurgents ambushed their
convoy in the Damboa area of Borno state, on
Tuesday.
An officer who witnessed the attack said his
colleagues who took cover were yet to be found.
He said men from men of the State Anti-Robbery
Squad (SARS) deployed to rescue the officers have not
been able to rescue all of them.
The officer said the convoy was conveying a corpse of
a policewoman to Adamawa state when the attackers
struck.
“Some private and commercial vehicles which were
heading to Biu, Adamawa, Hawul and Gwoza when
the incident happened,” he said.
“People abandoned the vehicles and took to their
heels.
“The bus conveying our female colleague for burial
was riddled with bullets, because it was in front.
“So far, only two people died but we are yet to
ascertain whether others were killed or got trapped.
SARS was deployed and the truck conveying the
officers has been recovered.”
But Damian Chukwu, commissioner of police in the
state, said only one policeman was killed in the
incident.
He said six others sustained injuries during an
exchange of gunfire with the suspects.
Chukwu said the incident occurred around 2:30pm.
“Some of our policemen who were heading to
Adamawa for the burial of one of our own female
officer police were attacked. Unfortunately, we lost an
officer,” he said.
“Fifty-seven officers who ran into the bush for their
safety are safe and right here with us in the command.
They will continue with their trip to Askira Uba
tomorrow.”
Hassan Usman, a Borno resident, said Zana Modu,
district head of Chibok, and Umar Shikarfi, vice-
chairman of the Chibok local government, sustained
injuries in the attack.
Usman said it was not clear if the insurgents took
hostages.
“The attack happened along Maiduguri-Damboa road.
The passengers come with escorts and the insurgents
attacked the convoy and so many people were
injured,” he said.
“They opened fire, they were sporadically shooting at
the convoy, a lot of varying degrees of injuries. “Our
district head, Zana Modu of Chibok was shot in his
hand, then the vice-chairman Umar Shikarfi of Chibok
local government was shot in the leg.
“They said they have taken vehicles to the bush, there
is an ambulance coming from Maiduguri for a burial,
both the ambulance and the corpse, they have taken.
“Some other vehicles are still missing, we don’t know if
it is with them, we cannot confirm that one. They
damaged a lot of cars.”
Borno has recorded frequent attacks in recent times,
especially after some military commanders were
redeployed.
More than 10 attacks have happened in the state in
the last one month.
On June 13, insurgents ambushed soldiers on
Damboa-Maiduguri road, dispossessing them of two
Hilux vehicles.
Later that day, Boko Haram fighters invaded Maiduguri
through Alidawari and Jidari Polo areas at a time
Tukur Burutai, chief of army staff, was at his official
residence in Maimalari Barracks.
As if that was not enough, three female bombers
donated improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at Goni
Kachalari and Muna areas of the ancient town, killing
13 people, while 24 others were injured.
Three days after, the insurgents attacked Gimsuri
village along Damboa to Chibok road, killing two
civilians and burning four houses.
On June 18, Boko Haram militants killed three soldiers
on patrol at Wajiroko village along Damboa to Biu
road.
On June 19, five female bombers struck at Kofa
community in Dalori area of Maiduguri. 12 persons
were killed in that tragic incident.
The Cable learnt that the army authorities have
summoned top officers in the state to Abuja over the
resurgence in the activities of the sect.
TheCable
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