The Borno State Police Command has confirmed the death of four of its personnel following an attempted attack by suspected Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province fighters in Nganzai, Borno State.
In a statement issued in Maiduguri, Police spokesperson ASP Keneth Daso said security operatives successfully repelled coordinated attacks on Nganzai and Damasak, restoring calm in the affected communities.
The assault reportedly occurred in the early hours of April 4, when heavily armed insurgents attempted to overrun the Nganzai Divisional Police Headquarters.
Officers, alongside operatives of the Police Mobile Force and Crack Squad, engaged the attackers in a fierce exchange.
The attackers were said to have deployed rocket-propelled grenades and other sophisticated weapons, damaging parts of the facility and burning an unserviceable Armoured Personnel Carrier.
“Regrettably, four police personnel paid the supreme price in the line of duty,” the statement said.
In a separate incident, the insurgents also attacked an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Damasak, targeting a security post manned by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and local hunters.
A hunter, identified as Atom Abua, was killed, while about 20 thatched houses were destroyed.
Security teams comprising the police, military, Civilian Joint Task Force, and local hunters were said to have responded swiftly, repelling the attackers and preventing further destruction.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, has since deployed additional personnel and operational assets to the affected areas, commending the bravery of officers and extending condolences to the families of the fallen.
He assured that efforts are ongoing to track down those responsible, while urging residents to remain vigilant and support security agencies with credible information.