By Dauda Pam
Seven passengers, including the Driver names withheld were on Thursday morning killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) suspected to have been planted along Biu- Buratai- Buni Yadi- Damaturu road,YOBE state.
The incident said to have taken place between Kamuya and Buratai village, the home town to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Tukur Buratai,coming barely a week, when suspected insurgents on 19th September 2019, abducted five persons on the same route.
According to reliable sources, the passengers with their driver in a Golf saloon vokswagen vehicle were heading from Biu Local Government Area of Borno to Maiduguri, the state capital, unfortunately, upon reaching closer to the newly tarred road constructed by Yobe State Government stamped on the IED, which exploded and destroyed the vehicle with occupants into pieces.
The incident according to one of the lucky Driver and his passengers who were also heading to Maiduguri, and was trailing the affected Volkswagen Golf with a little distance back, happened at about 10am.
His words, ” We have to give God the Glory for sparing our lives and property today along Biu-Damaturu road. I was at the back of the exploded Golf car, but because of the little distance, the explosion of the IED could not reach us, but we have to immediately make a u-turn without reaching our destination.
“In fact, we thought it was a rainbow show, as the whole area became lightened with heavy sound that shook the area.” The escaped driver said.
Recalled that recently, the Cashier of Hawul Local Government Area of the Borno state was kidnapped along the same route, before he later released after payment of ransom. Also, an ambush by terrorists along the same road last two weeks claimed the life of a military personnel and carting away of foodstuff and millions of naira.
All efforts to get confirmation from the Police authorities proved abortive at press time.
