Officers killed as Boko Haram attacks police station in Borno

No fewer than four police officers and a local hunter have been killed following coordinated attacks by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters in Borno State.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, confirmed the development, noting that the casualties occurred during late-night assaults on Nganzai and Mobbar Local Government Areas.

He explained that in the early hours of Saturday, April 4, around 1:00am, heavily armed insurgents launched an attack on the Nganzai Divisional Police Headquarters in a bid to seize control of the area.

According to him, officers at the division, supported by operatives of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) and members of the Crack Squad on special assignment, confronted the attackers in an intense exchange of gunfire. The joint effort successfully foiled the assault on both Nganzai and nearby Damasak communities, restoring calm.

Daso revealed that the assailants used Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and other high-grade weapons during the attack, which led to partial destruction of the police facility and damage to an unserviceable Armoured Personnel Carrier.

“But regrettably, four police personnel paid the supreme price in the line of duty,” he said.

In a separate but related incident, he disclosed that at about 2:40am the same day, insurgents stormed the Malam Fatori Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Damasak, targeting a security post manned by CJTF members and local hunters.

During that attack, a member of the Hunters Group, identified as Atom Abua, 40, was killed, while about 20 thatched houses and other properties were destroyed.

The police spokesperson stated that a combined team of security operatives, including the Police, Military, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), and local hunters, responded promptly to both incidents, repelling the attackers and limiting further destruction.

He added that the Commissioner of Police in Borno State, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, has reinforced security in the affected areas by deploying additional personnel and operational resources to prevent further attacks.

Daso said the CP praised the courage displayed by officers who resisted the assault and stopped the insurgents from taking over the communities.

“He also extends his condolences to the families of the deceased personnel and assures that the Command is committed to tracking down the perpetrators and bringing them to justice.

“Members of the public are urged to remain calm, vigilant, and continue to support security agencies with credible information,” Daso added.

He reaffirmed the Command’s dedication to safeguarding lives and property across Borno State.