World Food Programme, WFP, has confirmed killing of four persons working with it in an ambush of one of their military-escorted convoy of food trucks taking supply to an internally displaced persons camp in Ngala village, Borno State on Saturday.
WFP, a UN body has been involved in providing food assistance to persons displaced by Boko Haram insurgency across North East Nigeria.
The WFP’s Communication Officer at the Maiduguri area office, Adedeji Ademigbuji said in a statement that two of the four persons killed were the truck driver and his assistant.
“WFP can confirm that a convoy escorted by the Nigerian military including WFP hired trucks was the subject of an attack by armed groups 35km southwest of Ngala in Borno State on Saturday (16 December)”, said Mr Ademigbuji.
“Four people, including the driver of a WFP-hired truck and a driver’s assistant, were killed in the incident. WFP extends its condolences to the bereaved families.
“WFP is working with the authorities to determine the whereabouts of the trucks,” he said.
But journalists in Maiduguri, quoting unnamed sources, are also reporting that three other persons were abducted by the gunmen who drove the food trucks to an unknown destination.
This has not been confirmed by WFP.