Gunmen kill 2 APC officials in Borno

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

Two officials of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Borno state were killed on Monday morning when suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked their vehicle along Maiduguri-Dikwa highway.

Witnesses said the deceased were the APC Interim Chairman of Kala-Balge local government council Alhaji Modu Janga and the Youths Leader, Alhaji Abba, who shot dead near Mafa town.

It was gathered that the slain politicians were killed on their way to Gudumbali town after attending an undisclosed event in Maiduguri, the capital city.

Sources said the incident occurred when some gunmen waylaid their vehicle in which they were travelling and fired sporadic shots at their direction.

According to an eyewitness and resident of Mafa, Babagana Usman Mafa, said “the insurgents blocked the road with wood and tree branches, before identify occupants of the vehicle and shot dead two persons at the spot, and fled towards Dikwa, a border town with Cameroon.

“The party chairman along with other passengers in the ambushed vehicle, were first stopped by flagging-down the driver for identification, before three gunmen on motorcycles shot dead two people at close range and fled towards Dikwa,” Usman said.

He said the gunmen did not rob the party officials, as their vehicle was abandoned at the scene of the incident, adding that the road was also closed for two hours by soldiers and policemen prevent further attacks.

On whether other vehicles were ambushed during the attack, he said: “these gunmen could have targeted the APC officials returning to the council area of Kala/Balge, before they were ambushed on that road leading to Gudumbali, the council headquarters.”

Chairman of Kala-Balge local government Alhaji Alifa Bukar Rann confirmed the incident to newsmen, saying “the two officials of APC were shot dead near Mafa town while returning to Gudumbali for party official engagement.