Food Convoy Attacked, Vehicles Torched by Boko Haram Near Maiduguri

The trucks carrying food to Maiduguri, Borno State, were stopped by suspected Boko Haram/Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) fighters.

The rebels halted three dump trucks and two trailers transporting beans to Maiduguri, according to Daily Trust.

Between the villages of Burmari and Garin Kashim in the Guzamala Local Government Area, the incident is said to have happened on Saturday along the Monnguno–Guzamala axis.

Before escaping into surrounding bushes, the rebels allegedly lit the trailer heads on fire.

One of the drivers claimed that as the attack started, he fled into the jungle after abandoning his car.

He said the attackers were thought to be the same group that roughly five days prior had targeted trucks in the vicinity that were transporting building materials and maize.

Another witness claimed that before burning the cars on fire, the militants first deflated their tires. He further said that the drivers were able to escape safely because locals helped extinguish the fire before it spread to the trailer bodies.

Since soldiers are not positioned strategically along the axis like they are on other problematic roads in the state, drivers on the route expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of security patrols.

According to reports, a number of truck owners have pulled their cars from the route due to frequent attacks.