The Borno Police Command has confirmed that it lost four personnel in an attack by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on Nganzai and Damasak communities in the state.
The police command spokesperson, Nahum Daso, said in a statement that the terrorists attacked the Nganzai divisional police headquarters at about 1am on Saturday in an attempt to overrun the town.
Daso said officers, along with operatives of the police mobile force (PMF) and crack squad, engaged the attackers in a gun battle.
According to him, the insurgents deployed rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and other weapons, damaging part of the station and partially burning an unserviceable armoured personnel carrier.
He identified the deceased officers as Samuel Ezekiel, an inspector attached to Nganzai division; Sanusi Mohammed, an inspector with 58 PMF Lafiya; Bitrus Luka, a police constable with the crack squad BRS; and Shaibu Bukar, also a constable with the crack squad BRS.
He added that at about 2:40am, the attackers struck the Mallam Fatori internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Damasak, targeting a joint security post manned by the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and local hunters.
Daso said one member of the hunters’ group, identified as Atom Abua, was also killed, while about 20 thatched houses were destroyed.
He said combined teams of the police, military, CJTF, and local hunters repelled the attackers in both incidents, preventing further damage.
The police spokesperson said the command honoured the officers for their courage, sacrifice, and commitment to duty.
Daso noted that Naziru Abdulmajid, commissioner of police in Borno, has deployed additional personnel and operational assets to the affected areas to strengthen security and prevent further attacks.
He added that the police commissioner commended the officers for their bravery and extended condolences to the families of the deceased.
In a separate statement on Sunday, Daso said the command laid the four fallen officers to rest at the Kawar Maila burial ground and the maximum prison burial ground in Maiduguri.
He added that the ceremony was attended by the commissioner of police Jawi Mohammed, assistant commissioner of police (operations), and other senior officers.
The police spokesperson said prayers were offered by Bukar Gajibo, an imam, and Theophilus Mutum, chaplain of the command.
