by Akan Ido

Gunmen suspected to be members of the dreaded Islamic militant sect, Boko Haram on Sunday attacked the convoy of Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima while returning from a condolence visit to the people of Bama and Malari over last Wednesday’s attacks and killings.

Reports say the gunmen succeeded in hitting the vehicle of the commissioner of higher education, Bello Ayuba, who escaped unhurt.

The shots targeted at the convoy reportedly destroyed the engine compartment of the commissioner’s vehicle thereby breaking the convoy.

Read The Nation report below:

According to an eyewitness, Ibrahim Yakubu who spoke with newsmen, the gunmen targeted the convoy hitting the commissioner’s vehicle, after Governor Kashim Shettima’s barely passed the location of the attempted assassination along Maiduguri-Bama road while returning from a condolence visit to the people of Bama and Malari over last Wednesday’s attacks and killings.

“The suspected gunmen narrowly missed the commissioner and his driver, by firing several gunshots into the engine compartment, before convoy soldiers engaged the fleeing suspects into the Sambisa Forests, 30 minutes after the attempted assassination on the Borno official, while returning from Bama yesterday to condole and sympathize with the people.

“The gunmen capitalized on the fact that the Governor’s convoy was returning to Maiduguri and started firing at the commissioner’s official vehicle without hitting the commissioner or his driver yesterday,” Yakubu said.

Spokesman of 7th Division of Nigerian Army, Col. Mohammed Dole and Borno State Police Commissioner, Tanko Lawal confirmed the attack.

The Governor was however not perturbed about the attempt as he stopped by Malari, a small settlement along the 78km Barma-Maiduguri road where he had also condoned with the people of the area over a fresh attack on their community by insurgents believed to be the Boko haram.

Old and fatigued women who had lost their thatched homes burnt down at about midnight Saturday were seen trekking out of the village towards Maiduguri about twenty kilometers away for fear of being attacked.

Fresh smoke was seen coming out of the some of the raised down homes of the people who told the Governor through their spokesman that two people died in the midnight raid on their peace by the insurgents.

The Governor assured them that he will do all he can to rebuild their community adding that they should not allow the insurgents to dampen their spirits.