The governorship campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Borno State was disrupted on Thursday after the convoy of its candidate, Mustapha Gubio, came under attack while returning to Maiduguri.
The incident occurred along the Gubio-Kareto-Damasak highway after Gubio and his entourage had concluded a thank-you visit to Damasak in northern Borno.
Sources familiar with the incident said the convoy was travelling back to Maiduguri when a police armoured vehicle leading the team reportedly ran over an explosive device planted on the road.
The explosion severely damaged the armoured vehicle and was followed by an attempted ambush by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
Security personnel attached to the convoy, including military and police operatives as well as members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), reportedly responded immediately and engaged the attackers in a gun battle.
According to a security source, the operatives took strategic positions and successfully repelled the attackers, preventing them from advancing towards the main convoy.
The APC candidate and other members of the entourage reportedly escaped the attack without casualties, although the police armoured vehicle sustained significant damage from the blast.
The incident has again drawn attention to the security situation along the Gubio-Kareto-Damasak corridor, one of the routes in northern Borno that has remained vulnerable to insurgent attacks and improvised explosive devices.
The attack also highlights the security challenges facing political activities in Borno as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue.
The development is particularly significant given the history of political violence in the state, including the 2011 killing of Modu Fannami Gubio, an ANPP governorship candidate.
As of the time of filing this report, the Borno State Police Command had not publicly issued a statement confirming the attack or providing details on casualties.
Authorities are expected to provide further clarification on the incident and the security situation along the affected route.
