Officials of the World Food Programme (WFP), the food-assistance branch of the United Nations, have confirmed that four members of its team in Borno State were killed when they ran into a Boko Haram ambush on Saturday.

The deceased were part of a convoy going to deliver food items at an Internally Displaced Persons’ camp in a remote area of the state.

The insurgents drove away with the food supplies, while, according to other sources, some members of the UN team were also abducted.

Adedeji Ademigbuji, WFP’s Communication Officer, Maiduguri area office, confirmed the incident, adding that two of the four persons killed were the truck driver and his assistant.

He however did not say whether any member of the team was kidnapped.

“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)”, Ademigbuji stated.

“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.”

It is not clear whether the other two people killed in the attack were civilians or soldiers that were escorting the team.

Unconfirmed sources say three other persons were abducted by the insurgents, who also set one of the trucks ablaze.

The Nigerian military is yet to issue a statement on the attack.