My convoy was bombed – Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume

Senator
Mohammed Ali
Ndume
representing
Southern
Borno
Senatorial
District,
yesterday,
escaped death
by the
whiskers as a
Nigerian Air
Force, NAF, Jet
allegedly mistook his convoy for those of Boko
Haram terrorists and threw explosives at it.
NAF authorities, however, said that the jet
mistakenly fired shots at Ndume's convoy while on
the pursuit of some Boko Haram suspects who
were operating in the area at the time Ndume was
passing.
Ndume was said to be returning from Gwoza Local
Government where he had gone to sympathise
with the people over ongoing killings in the area,
when the incident happened.
Addressing newsmen at his Maiduguri residence,
Ndume said he travelled to Gwoza to present a
letter of appoinment to the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji
Iddrisa Timta, who was to be upgraded as a first
class emir as well as visit Arbaku, Ngoshe and
other remote villages affected by Boko Haram
attacks to condole with the victims, adding that he
was surprised when he was attacked by an Air
Force jet.
Ndume said, "I thank God for sparing my life as the
jet which I suspected was on military operation
against Boko Haram dropped four bombs on my
convoy.
"I went to Gwoza. I notified the police and military
authorities of my presence where they even
assisted me with security cover, and when I
finished with my mission at about 2:10pm, we
started hearing explosions. Initially, I thought it
was Boko Haram that wanted to attack me, but
when we were thrown into confusion, the soldiers
attached to my convoy rushed to me and said it
was not Boko Haram, but rather, an Air Force jet
that was dropping bombs. We had to run into a
military base close to the scene of the incident and
take cover."
Ndume said he had reported the incident to the
Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Azubuike Ihejirika, who
he further added, replied his text message thus, "I
hope no life was lost."
NAF's Spokesman, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas said
in Abuja yesterday that its jet was pursuing some
Boko Haram suspects when it cited Ndume's
convoy and mistakenly fired some shots at it, and
not bombs as alleged, describing the incident as
unfortunate.
Speaking on telephone with Vanguard, the Director
of Air Force Public Relations, Air Commodore Yusuf
Anas, denied allegations that Senator Ndume's
convoy was bombed.
Anas said that terrorists of the Boko Haram sect
attacked the Army Barracks in Gwoza and made
attempt to over run it, adding that during the
pursuit of the terrorists, the jets flew low and
opened fire on a set of vehicles, about five or more
of them including Hilux vans that were carrying the
terrorists…But because the aircraft could not
ascertain those in the vehicles, no further action
was taken. If Senator Ndume was in one of the
vehicles, it is unfortunate but the fighter jets were
not in a position to know the occupants of some of
the vehicles who were fleeing," Anas said.
SOURCE: Vanguard Nigeria

Sent From David Aniemeka