Pat Stevens/
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the death of 17 police officers following a terrorist attack on the Nigerian Army Special Forces School in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, the officers were among personnel undergoing specialised operational training at the military institution when heavily armed terrorists launched a coordinated assault on the facility in the early hours of May 8.
The police said the attackers stormed the training school from multiple directions at about 1.15am, triggering an intense gun battle involving security personnel at the camp.
The statement added that several soldiers also lost their lives while resisting the attack.
Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, described the slain officers as courageous personnel who demonstrated “exceptional patriotism and commitment to national security” by participating in advanced counter-terrorism and tactical training programmes.
The police chief extended condolences to the families of the deceased officers and assured them that their sacrifices would not be forgotten.
The Commissioner of Police in Yobe State, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, also visited the Special Forces School on behalf of the IGP to commiserate with the Commandant of the institution, Brigadier General A.C. Enuagu, as well as surviving police personnel and officers of the Nigerian Army.
During the visit, the commissioner reportedly encouraged surviving trainees to remain resolute and complete the programme in honour of their fallen colleagues.
The attack is the latest in a series of insurgent assaults targeting military formations and security facilities in north-eastern Nigeria, particularly in parts of Yobe and neighbouring Borno State.
Buni Yadi has previously witnessed deadly insurgent attacks, including the 2014 massacre at the Federal Government College in the town, where dozens of students were killed by suspected Boko Haram fighters, an incident that drew international condemnation.
The Nigeria Police Force said it would continue to work with the Armed Forces and other security agencies to track down those responsible for the latest assault and bring them to justice.
0Related posts:
Internal Security Dynamics and the Imperative of a New Policing Thought in Nigeria
Promoting Academic Excellence in the Nigeria Police Force: A Call for Swift Recognition of PhD-Holding Officers in Training Institutions
Elections and the Role of the Nigeria Police Force in the Electoral Process – Solomon Arase
FG Presents Buhari’s Scorecard
Pomp as Nigeria Police Force Crowns DIG Adeleye Oyebade’s Career with Glory
Policing The Nigerian Federation: Integrating Community Policing In Nigerian Security Architecture