Boko Haram operatives have obstructed some UN officials who visited the north-east to share relief materials to the despondent people who have been displaced from their homes with no decent means of livelihood.

According to Dailypost, a team of United Nations, UN, officials were attacked on Thursday by Boko Haram. The officials’ convoy, escorted by heavily armed soldiers, came under heavy attack as they made their way to Bama to distribute food materials and drugs.

An impeccable source told a correspondent Thursday night that the officials, working for the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, were ambushed at an area close to Bama, under Konduga local government area of Borno State.

Konduga is less than 30 kilometres away from Maiduguri, the state capital. The UN team, it was learnt, and other donor agencies were going to an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Bama on an intervention mission.

“Boko Haram fighters numbering over 50, armed with anti aircraft gun (machine gun mounted on open truck), suddenly emerged just after Kawuri village and rained bullets on the UN motorcade,” said the source.

“One of the officials confided in me that the soldiers saved the day. They fought with everything they had until Boko Haram retreated into the bush. This would have been a great embarrassment to Nigeria.

“Four of the soldiers and and driver of one of the UN vehicle was hit. The person beside the driver took control of the vehicle. If not, it would have been disastrous for the occupants.

“Some officials sustained minor injuries, no lives lost. All survivors are presently at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital”, the source stated.

The Nigerian army later confirmed the attack that recorded a few casualties but no lives were lost.