The incident occurred as Gubio and members of his entourage were returning to Maiduguri after a thank-you visit to Damasak, a border town in northern Borno State, according to media reports.
Damasak is located about 190 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
A security source said suspected insurgents planted landmines along the Gubio-Kareto-Damasak highway.
The source said a police armoured vehicle leading the convoy ran over one of the explosive devices, triggering a powerful blast.
‘We entered Damasak safely and spent about 40 minutes there.
‘On our way back, the insurgents planted mines on the road, and the armoured vehicle that led the convoy drove over it and exploded,’ the source said.
Following the explosion, the suspected insurgents attempted to ambush the convoy.
The attack, however, was quickly repelled by a combined team of security personnel comprising military and police operatives, alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force CJTF.
The security personnel engaged the attackers in a gunfight after taking defensive positions along the route.
‘We had to park and take positions, waiting for the remaining vehicles in the convoy to arrive. In the course of waiting, we noticed the movement of the insurgents and swiftly engaged them,’ the source added.
The security operatives reportedly succeeded in repelling the attackers and prevented further damage to the convoy.
There were no immediate reports of casualties among Gubio and members of the main convoy.
However, the police armoured vehicle that triggered the explosive device was severely damaged by the blast.
The incident underscores the continuing security challenges along major roads linking communities in northern Borno, where insurgents have previously targeted motorists and security formations.
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