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Death Tolls from Zulum’s attack on the Rise

The death toll from a jihadist attack on the convoy of Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has risen to 30, security sources said Saturday.

The Borno State restive  attack occurred on Friday while Zulum was on an assessment tour of Baga in preparation for the return of thousands of residents displaced from the town by the jihadists in 2014.

Sources had earlier told AFP that a convoy transporting Governor Zulum came under attack from insurgents on Friday near the town of Baga on the shores of Lake Chad.

A second security source gave the same death toll of 30 from the assault and said the militants seized eight vehicles.

“The terrorists made away with an armoured personnel carrier, a gun truck and six sports utility vehicles in the convoy,” the source said.

Police confirmed in a statement that the attack by suspected jihadists on the “security convoy” had killed eight policemen and three government-backed militia members.

Nigerians have condemned the attack calling on President Muhammadu Buhari who had insisted that the Boko Haram militant sect has been technically defeated, despite recent attacks by the group in the country to immediately replace the service chiefs.

Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has condemned Friday’s attack on the convoy of Borno State Governor.While sympathizing with his Borno state counterpart over the incident, Governor Ortom described the attack as shocking and sad.

The Governor in a statement, Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Terver Akase urged his Borno state counterpart, not to the deterred by the incident.

Part of the statement read, “the attack on the convoy of Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, in which some persons were killed is shocking and quite sad.

“I deeply sympathize with Governor Zulum and families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate ambush. I am optimistic that he will not be discouraged by the attack as he continues to support security agencies to restore peace to all parts of his state.

“May God grant the souls of the gallant security men on his convoy eternal rest.”

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