The Defence Headquarters has launched a manhunt for the terrorists responsible for the recent attack on the convoy of Yobe state governor, Mai Mala Buni.
The incident occurred as the convoy was en route from Maiduguri to Damaturu when terrorists ambushed the vehicles.
Although Governor Mai Mala Buni was not present in the convoy during the attack, key government officials, including the Secretary to Yobe State Government, Baba Wali, and the Special Adviser on Religious Affairs, were among those traveling with the convoy.
A statement on Sunday night by the Director, Defence Media Operation, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba explained that it took the intervention of troops from the 29 Task Force Brigade who were on patrol duty to rescue the victims and recover the two vehicles affected in the incident.
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According to him, the security personnel in the convoy who were injured during the incident include one military truck driver, four police escorts, and one DSS operative.
The statement read, “On November 18, 2023, at about 18:30hrs, the convoy and escorts of the executive governor of Yobe state that were returning to Damaturu from Maiduguri encountered terrorists ambush attack at a location about six kilometers from Benesheikh town which is along road Maiduguri to Damaturu road.
“The governor was not in the convoy. However, government officials in the convoy at the time of the incident include the following: the Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Baba Wali; the Special Adviser on Religious Affairs, the military escorts with two Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles and three Toyota gun trucks, Police Escorts; Department of State Services Operatives and Members of Yobe state hunters group.
“Troops of 29 Task Force Brigade on patrol duty and route piquetting along road Maiduguri to Damaturu promptly moved to the scene and assisted in the extrication of the victims and recovery of the victims and recovery of the two vehicles affected in the incident. The security personnel in the convoy who were affected during the incident included one military truck driver, four police escorts, and one DSS operative who all sustained gunshot wounds but were in stable condition. ”
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Buba noted that one of the injured police officers died after getting to the hospital in Damaturu.
He said the troops from 29 Task Force led by their Commander are conducting fighting patrols in the area where the incident occurred to locate the terrorists.
Buba vowed that the terrorists would be located and destroyed.
“Unfortunately, one of the injured police escorts died shortly on arrival at the Specialist hospital in Damaturu.
“Reinforcement of troops from 29 Task Force Brigade led by the Brigade Commander are conducting a fighting patrol in the area to locate the terrorists who carried out the dastardly act. The two vehicles affected in the incident include one MRAP and one civilian escort vehicle whose tyres were shot at during the incident but both vehicles have been safely recovered to the military camp at Benisheikh.
“The injured victims have also been successfully evacuated to the specialists’ hospital Damaturu where they are currently receiving treatment while the corpse of the deceased police personnel has also been deposited in the mortuary of the same hospital.
“Operations are ongoing to hunt and destroy the terrorist that perpetrated the attack, ” the statement added.
