Suspected terrorists of Islamic State of West African Province
(ISWAP), have killed 11 policemen, six soldiers and four Civilian JTF
along Monguno/Baga road in Borno.
The 17 security personnel, were slain in Governor Babagana Zulum
convoy Friday, while proceeding to Baga resettle 3,000 internally
displaced persons (IDPs) yesterday (Saturday).
Friday’s attack, brings to second one; along same route to Baga town
at about 2pm on Wednesday, July 29, 2020.
Zulum however; departed Maiduguri Thursday morning in a military
helicopter to join his convoy in Monguno town, 57 kilometres to Baga.
The fish trading town, 191 kilometres north of Maiduguri, was
recaptured by military in 2016, before Governor inaugurated the IDPs’
Returning Committee (IRC); led by State’s Attorney-General and
Commissioner of Justice, Kaka Shehu Lawan.
The returning IDPs, were severally attacked by Boko Haram in 2014,
before taking refuge in Monguno and Maiduguri camps for over five
years.
Confirming the incident Saturday in Maiduguri, two sources from the
Police and Army said: “We were heading to Baga town along with
Governor’s convoy at about 2pm yesterday (Friday), when sporadic gun
shots and grenades were fired into our escort convoy at Korochara
village.”
According to him, thirteen civilians, were also killed in the convoy
attack, while 30 bodies of policemen, soldiers and civilians were
evacuated from the scene to various morgues in Maiduguri, the state
capital.
“The village is about two kilometres to recaptured fishing town;
located on shores of Lake Chad and near the Multination Joint Task
Force (MNJTF) base,” disclosing; that the Baga trip, was to ‘resettle
and distribute’ food items and financial support to the returnees.
While lamenting on casualties, the Police source said: “We lost 11
policemen, four Civilian JTF and six soldiers that died instantly in
the Baga ambush multiple attacks.
He added that an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) of the Police and
six government official vehicles were also confiscated by terrorists,
and fled towards Lake Chad, east of Monguno military barrack.
An anonymous Borno state official, also told The Guardian that the
insurgents rained bullets on the unsuspecting members in Governor’s
convoy.
According to the police officer, about two dozens of civilians in the
convoy, were also wounded, while scampering for safety along the
56-kilometre Monguno/Baga road.
The Baga attack also occurred five days after Col. Dahiru Bako, was
killed in Boko Haram ambush in the Sabon/Gari/Damboa axis of Sambisa
Forest in the state.
