Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
Suspected Boko Haram terrorists launched a devastating ambush on the convoy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Borno State, Engr. Mustapha Gubio, along the volatile Gubio–Kareto–Damasak highway on Thursday, September 3, 2026, in an attack that underscored the persistent security threats facing political figures in Nigeria's embattled North-East region. The attack, which occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. as Gubio and his entourage were returning to Maiduguri after a thank-you visit to the border town of Damasak, headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area, involved a coordinated assault using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs).
According to security sources, the insurgents had planted landmines along the highway, and a police armoured personnel carrier leading the convoy triggered one of the explosive devices, causing a powerful blast that severely damaged the vehicle. The explosion was immediately followed by heavy gunfire as the attackers attempted to ambush the convoy. However, a combined team of security operatives comprising military personnel, police officers, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and vigilante groups swiftly responded, engaging the terrorists in a fierce gun battle.
The Borno State Police Command confirmed the incident on Friday, September 4, 2026, with the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, stating that no lives were lost among the security personnel or civilians. Daso identified the attackers as suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, adding that the assailants may have escaped with gunshot injuries after the security forces engaged them. "The terrorists laid an ambush with planted Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) targeting the convoy and also fired several Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), but they were repelled with no casualties recorded from the side of the security forces or civilians," Daso said.
In a separate statement, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that police tactical operatives successfully counter-engaged the suspected terrorists, forcing them to retreat into the surrounding bush. Hundeyin added that security personnel subsequently scanned and cleared the immediate axis to neutralise secondary explosive threats before safely evacuating the convoy to a secure location. "The convoy, conveying a gubernatorial candidate, government officials and political stakeholders, was safely evacuated to a secure location with no casualties recorded among members of the entourage," he said.
Sources within the convoy told PUNCH Online that the attack was brief but could have caused significant casualties without the intervention of security personnel. One source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the attackers used an IED and RPGs, adding that the security team overpowered them before the convoy resumed its journey to Damasak. "The attack happened very briefly. The atmosphere later became calm and we proceeded to our destination," the source said.
The Gubio–Kareto–Damasak route is a notoriously volatile corridor that serves as a critical transit route for Boko Haram insurgents moving from their Lake Chad enclaves toward Alagarma, the Sambisa Forest, and parts of Yobe State. Because of its strategic importance for terrorist logistics and movement, the area has long remained a dangerous hotspot for relentless ambushes targeting both military convoys and civilian travellers. Commuters and security forces alike must routinely navigate the treacherous route under the constant threat of IEDs and sudden raids, cementing its status as one of the most perilous zones in the ongoing insurgency.
Thursday's ambush has raised fresh concerns over the safety of political campaigns and movements in parts of Borno State as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections. It has also evoked memories of past political violence in the region, notably the tragic January 2011 assassination of Modu Fannami Gubio, a former governorship candidate of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP), who was shot and killed by gunmen in Maiduguri. The attack on Mustapha Gubio, who shares a surname with the slain politician, serves as a grim reminder of the persistent danger confronting political actors in the North-East.
The attack comes just weeks after Gubio emerged as the APC's consensus governorship candidate following the party's primary elections. His convoy was returning from Damasak, where he had gone to thank APC members for their backing. Despite the attack, the convoy continued its journey after security personnel cleared the area.
The successful repulsion of the attack has been hailed as a testament to the effectiveness of the combined security forces operating in the region. Police authorities have assured the public that investigations are ongoing to track down the fleeing terrorists and prevent future attacks on political figures and civilians alike. The incident, however, underscores the fragile security situation in northern Borno and the urgent need for sustained military operations to neutralise the persistent threat posed by Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents.
As the 2027 elections draw nearer, the attack on Mustapha Gubio's convoy serves as a stark warning to political actors across the country, particularly those operating in conflict-prone regions. The ability of terrorists to launch sophisticated ambushes on high-profile targets raises serious questions about the security of political campaigns and the safety of candidates and their supporters. For now, Gubio and his team have escaped unhurt, but the message from the terrorists is clear: no one is safe in the treacherous terrain of northern Borno.
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