Olayiwola Matthew
At least four police officers and a local hunter have been killed following coordinated attacks carried out by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists on communities in Borno State.
The incident was confirmed by the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Kenneth Daso, who said the assaults occurred in Nganzai and Mobbar Local Government Areas during overnight operations by the insurgents.
According to him, the first attack happened at about 1:00 a.m. on Saturday when armed terrorists stormed the Nganzai Divisional Police Headquarters in an attempt to overrun the town. Security personnel, including officers of the Police Mobile Force and a crack team on special duty, engaged the attackers in a gun battle and succeeded in repelling the assault.
The attackers reportedly used Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and other high-powered weapons during the confrontation, which caused damage to parts of the station and led to the partial burning of an unserviceable Armoured Personnel Carrier.
Daso disclosed that the clash resulted in the death of four police personnel, describing the loss as a painful sacrifice in the line of duty.
In his words, “But regrettably, four police personnel paid the supreme price in the line of duty.”
In a related development, the terrorists also struck at about 2:40 a.m. the same day, targeting the Malam Fatori Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Damasak, Mobbar LGA. The attackers reportedly aimed at a Civilian Joint Task Force and hunters’ post located at the entrance of the camp.
During the second attack, a member of the hunters’ group, identified as Atom Abua, 40, was killed, while about 20 thatched houses and other properties were destroyed by fire set by the assailants.
The police spokesperson stated that combined security forces, including the police, military, Civilian Joint Task Force, and local hunters, responded promptly to both incidents, successfully repelling the attackers and restoring order in the affected areas.
He added that the Commissioner of Police in Borno State, Naziru Abdulmajid, has ordered the deployment of additional personnel and operational assets to strengthen security presence and prevent further attacks.
The Commissioner also commiserated with the families of the fallen officers and commended the bravery of those who confronted the attackers, noting that their efforts prevented the insurgents from achieving their objectives.
Residents were urged to remain calm, stay vigilant, and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could assist ongoing operations. Daso reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
