Zulum: ISWAP’s ‘Coordinated Plot’ To Abduct Borno Governor Uncovered, More Ambush Underway – Report

Unless something is urgently done to avert it, Boko Haram insurgents may succeed in carrying out a coordinated plot to abduct Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, warns a counter terrorism expert privy to the plot.

The leadership of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province, commonly known as Boko Haram, has reportedly launched a joint strategy to abduct Governor Zulum.

The result of the coordinated plot were the two recent attacks on the convoy of the Borno governor by suspected members of the sect, according to intelligence gathered by David Otto, a certified anti -terrorism specialist and Director for Stepped In-Step Out UK Ltd.

The elusive Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, had in an audio message pledged allegiance to ISIS in 2015.

Otto, in a report published by EONS Intelligence, said members of the terrorist group were making concerted efforts to abduct Zulum.

The report had predicted the second attack on the governor’s convoy, giving details of how and where the insurgents were deployed in to carry out the attack.

“The armed jihadist units are suspected to have been deployed with the mission to launch a second and more catastrophic ambush on the convoy of vehicles transporting returning IDPs, BORNO state officials, and other commuters along the obscured long stretched road to and from Baga town,” said the report.

Otto had warned that, “The convoy returning from Baga town should be on EXTREME alert en route to Maiduguri — jihadist have planted IEDs to trigger an ambush in the hysteria.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force had on Sunday confirmed that Zulum’s convoy, “came under attack on Friday 25th September, 2020 along Monguno – Cross Kawua road as it was heading to the ancient town of Baga, as part of collective efforts at restoring civil authority in the community.”

No fewer than 15 security operatives attached to the governor’s convoy were said have been killed, while many others were injured.

Those reportedly killed were eight policemen, three soldiers, and four members of Civilian-JTF.