The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jam'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihd, has opened fire on a convoy transporting policemen attached to a yet-to-be-identified presidential aspirant of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
According to security officials, the rebels ambushed the convoy on the Maiduguri-Damaturu Road as it was travelling from Abuja to Maiduguri for a presidential campaign.
On Sunday, the tragedy occurred in Goni Matari village, Kaga Local Government Area, Borno State.
Bola Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos State, Rotimi Amaechi, the former minister of transportation, and Tein T.S. Jack-Rich, all APC presidential candidates, were in Borno over the weekend.
"The officers were not from Borno command, but from Abuja." They were tied to one of the presidential candidates that visited Borno on Sunday, but I am unable to establish which candidate was engaged at this time.
"In addition, the insurgents set fire to two patrol vehicles." Two of the officers died instantly, while the third died later in the hospital. "Four more people are in the hospital right now," a police source told SaharaReporters.
Meanwhile, the attack has been attributed to ISWAP.
However, the gang claims that seven police officers were murdered in the ambush.
Boko Haram and its offshoot, ISWAP, have been vicious in their attacks.