For a second time, the convoy of Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State in Nigeria Friday suffered a heavy casualty in the hands of Boko Haram terrorists along the Baga Highway in the Northern part of the state.
No fewer than 15 security personnel comprising eight policemen, three soldiers and four Civilian-JTF personnel died after suspected Boko Haram gunmen ambushed and rained bullets on the convoy of Borno officials travelling to Baga town.
The attack came barely two months after Zulum was attacked around the same axis by the insurgents on his way from Baga.
The convoy was heading to Baga town ahead of government’s planned return of internally displaced persons from Maiduguri when the tragedy struck.
The area is believed to be dangerous and has recorded many abductions and killings by the terrorist group in recent times.
A splinter group of Boko Haram sect, the Islamic State of West Africa Province, is believed to have a stronghold in the area.
Borno state governor, Babagana Zulum, who was expected to supervise the arrival of the IDPs at Baga, had left Maiduguri earlier in the day via a military chopper.
The attack, it was learnt, happened at about 12 p.m. some kilometers away from the Multinational Joint Task Force headquarters in Baga.
The attack happened four days after a colonel, D.C. Bako, was killed after another ambush by Boko Haram terrorists.
In reciprocation his gallantry in the fight against insurgency in the area, Zulum gave N20 million compensation to the bereaved family.
