Boko Haram ambushes United Nations officials, soldiers in Borno

Officials of the United Nations were among those injured on Thursday in northeast Nigeria as Boko Haram terrorists ambushed their vehicles as they from Bama where they had gone to offer relief services to displaced persons, officials said.

The convoy was attacked despite being escorted by armed soldiers.

The attacks on the UN officials and soldiers came four days after personnels of Medicins Sans Frontier narrowly escaped being killed by landmines some few kilometres from where Thursday’s ambush attack was carried out.

The landmine incident occurred on Sunday but was never reported in the media because neither the military nor the MSF officials talked about it.

The spokesman of the Nigeria Army, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, confirmed Thursday’s incident via a statement emailed to journalists on Thursday.

“Troops returning from Bama on humanitarian escort duty, were ambushed enroute Maiduguri by suspected remnants of Boko Haram terrorists hiding in Meleri village, a few kilometres from Kawuri,” Mr. Usman said.

“The gallant troops however, successfully cleared the ambush and exploited up to Afunori. Unfortunately, two soldiers and three civilians were wounded in the ambush, among whom were staff of United Nations agencies and other international humanitarian organizations.

“The wounded have been evacuated to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, and they are in stable condition.

“The Nigerian Army wishes to sympathize with our wounded colleagues, the United Nations and other non-governmental organizations whose personnel were also injured in this sad incident.

“We wish to reiterate our determination and commitment to ensuring safety and security in the North East and safeguarding the lives of all persons.”

Bama has been one of the most haunted towns since the Boko Haram insurgency began. Along the route to Bama lies the official gateway to Sambisa forest which is at Kawuri village.

The distance between Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, and Bama is about 85km. Until recently, the badly damaged road was not in use for over a year as Boko Haram terrorists took charge of the area.