The Borno State Police Command has confirmed the killing of four officers during coordinated attacks by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on Nganzai and Damasak communities.
The command’s spokesperson, Nahum Daso, disclosed this in a statement, explaining that the first attack occurred around 1:00 a.m. on Saturday when insurgents attempted to overrun the Nganzai Divisional Police Headquarters.
According to him, police officers, alongside operatives of the Police Mobile Force and crack squad, engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle.
Daso said the insurgents used heavy weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, which caused significant damage to the facility and partially burnt an unserviceable armoured personnel carrier.
The officers who lost their lives were identified as Inspector Samuel Ezekiel of Nganzai Division, Inspector Sanusi Mohammed of 58 PMF Lafiya, and Constables Bitrus Luka and Shaibu Bukar, both attached to the crack squad.
He further revealed that the attackers launched a second assault at about 2:40 a.m. on a joint security post at the Mallam Fatori Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Damasak.
The post, manned by the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and local hunters, came under heavy fire, resulting in the death of a hunter, identified as Atom Abua, while about 20 thatched houses were destroyed in the process.
Despite the attacks, Daso said combined security teams comprising the police, military, CJTF, and local hunters successfully repelled the insurgents in both locations, preventing further destruction.
The police command paid tribute to the fallen officers, describing them as courageous and dedicated to duty.
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Naziru Abdulmajid, has since deployed additional personnel and operational assets to the affected areas to reinforce security and forestall further attacks.
The commissioner also commended the bravery of the officers and extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
In a separate development, the command confirmed that the slain officers were buried on Sunday at the Kawar Maila burial ground and the maximum prison burial ground in Maiduguri.
The burial ceremony was attended by senior police officials, including the commissioner of police, while prayers were offered by an imam, Bukar Gajibo, and the command’s chaplain, Theophilus Mutum.
