Four policemen were killed in coordinated attacks by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Borno State on Saturday. The first assault targeted the Nganzai Divisional Police Headquarters in the early morning, where attackers armed with Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and other weapons engaged police, PMF operatives, and Crack Squad units in a fierce gun battle. ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, spokesperson for the Borno Police Command, confirmed the deaths of the four officers and damage to part of the station, including the partial burning of an unserviceable Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC). "Regrettably, four police personnel paid the supreme price in the line of duty," Daso said.
In a separate incident, terrorists attacked Mallam Fatori IDP Camp in Damasak, targeting a Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) duty post at the camp's entrance. One CJTF member, Atom Abua (40 years), was killed, and about twenty thatched houses were destroyed. Joint security forces, including police, military, CJTF, and local hunters, responded swiftly and repelled the attackers in both locations. Borno Commissioner of Police CP Naziru Abdulmajid has deployed additional personnel and assets to the areas to strengthen security. He praised the responding officers' bravery and extended condolences to the families of the deceased.
The loss of four police officers in Nganzai points to the persistent vulnerability of even official security outposts to well-armed insurgents. Despite the deployment of Crack Squad and PMF units, the use of RPGs by attackers shows a widening gap in firepower. CP Naziru Abdulmajid's promise of more assets may reassure on paper, but for communities living under constant threat, the difference between presence and protection remains stark. If the police command cannot secure a divisional headquarters, the promise of safety in remote towns looks increasingly hollow.
