ABUJA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 Nigerian security personnel were killed when Boko Haram group ambushed a convoy of vehicles in which government officials were driven in the northeastern state of Borno, local media reported on Saturday.
The attack near Monguno town in the restive northern state occurred on Friday while the officials were on their way to Baga, another town, where hundreds of returning Internally Displaced Persons were to be received.
Eight policemen, three soldiers, and four Civilian Joint Task Force personnel died in the attack, local online newspaper Premium Times reported, citing security sources.
The security team was deployed to provide escort to the local officials.
Channels Television, a local broadcaster, also reported that an armored personnel carrier belonging to the police, as well as state government vehicles, were hijacked in the attack.
The attack on Friday was the second of its kind in that northern state, stirring great concern. The Monguno area in Borno is believed to be dangerous and has witnessed many abductions by the terrorist group in the past.
Nigerian authorities are yet to react to the latest Boko Haram attack.
Boko Haram has been trying to establish an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria since 2009, extending its attacks to countries in the Lake Chad Basin. Enditem
