At least one police officer was killed and at least 57 others believed missing when Boko Haram insurgents attacked a police convoy in the Dambaoa area of Bornu State on Tuesday.
The convoy was conveying a corpse of a policewoman to Adamawa state when the attackers struck.
“Some private and commercial vehicles which were heading to Biu, Adamawa, Hawul, and Gwoza when the incident happened,” he said.
“People abandoned the vehicles and took to their heels.
“The bus conveying our female colleague for burial was riddled with bullets because it was in front.
“So far, only two people died but we are yet to ascertain whether others were killed or got trapped. SARS was deployed and the truck conveying the officers has been recovered.”
An officer who witnessed the attack told Thecable his colleagues who took cover were yet to be found.
Bornu state police commissioner, Damian Chukwu, confirmed that one policeman was killed in the incident.
He said six others sustained injuries during an exchange of gunfire with the suspects with the insurgents which occurred at about 2.30pm.
“Some of our policemen who were heading to Adamawa for the burial of one of our own female officer police were attacked. Unfortunately, we lost an officer,” he said.
“Fifty-seven officers who ran into the bush for their safety are safe and right here with us in the command. They will continue with their trip to Askira Uba tomorrow.”
Hassan Usman, a Borno resident, also told the Thecable that Zana Modu, district head of Chibok, and Umar Shikarfi, vice-chairman of the Chibok local government, sustained injuries in the attack.
Usman said it was not clear if the insurgents took hostages.
“The attack happened along Maiduguri-Damboa road. The passengers come with escorts and the insurgents attacked the convoy and so many people were injured,” he said.
“They opened fire, they were sporadically shooting at the convoy, a lot of varying degrees of injuries. “Our district head, Zana Modu of Chibok was shot in his hand, then the vice-chairman Umar Shikarfi of Chibok local government was shot in the leg.
“They said they have taken vehicles to the bush, there is an ambulance coming from Maiduguri for a burial, both the ambulance and the corpse, they have taken.
“Some other vehicles are still missing, we don’t know if it is with them, we cannot confirm that one. They damaged a lot of cars.”
Borno has recorded frequent attacks in recent times, following the redeployment of some military commanders.