Zulum’s convoy attacked again, 30 persons reported killed

We won’t surrender to the sect — Gov

AN ambush on the convoy of Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on Friday reportedly left 30 persons dead.

The attack had been earlier reported to have claimed 15 lives, but the death toll had risen to 30, according to AFP.

The governor’s convoy was said to have been attacked between Monguno and Baga areas of the state.

A security source said the attack left mainly security personnel comprising eight policemen, three soldiers and four Civilian Joint Task Force operatives dead.

The number of fatalities, stated the news agency, had doubled as more bodies were found and now included 12 policemen, five soldiers, four members of a government-backed militia, and nine civilians,

Governor Zulum has, however, saluted the courage and sacrifice of the security operatives who lost their lives when the insurgents attacked his convoy.

In a statement issued on his behalf late Saturday by his spokesman, Isa Gusau, the Governor said he was “saddened by this unfortunate carnage.”.

Praying for the repose of the souls of the dead, Zulum urged “all stakeholders to remain committed to ongoing peace building efforts.”

Continued the statement said, “Zulum is of the opinion that we must continue to keep hope alive even in the face of tribulations, and believe that with sustained efforts and prayers, Borno will eventually regain peace.

He noted that the people of Borno would not surrender to the wish of the sect.

“The situation facing us is a tough one but we must choose between doing something which gives us some hope and doing nothing which will leave us more vulnerable to Boko Haram’s ultimate wish to take over Borno and bring it under their sovereign brutal administration.”

This recent attack is the second within three months. In July, gunmen attacked the convoy of the governor in Kukawa local government area of the state but no one was killed.

The governor has been making efforts to resettle those displaced by insurgency.

Naija Times gathered that the governor had left Maiduguri for Baga to prepare for the planned return of internally displaced persons.

The governor was said to have left Maiduguri with a retinue of armed soldiers, police officers and Civilian-JTF personnel.

Friday’s incident is the second attack on the governor’s convoy in recent times around Baga.  His convoy had earlier been attacked in July on his way from the IDP camp.