The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the murder of 17 policemen following a terrorist attack on the Nigerian Army Special Forces School in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area, Yobe State.
Chronicle NG gathered that the officers were undergoing special operational training when the attackers struck the facility in the early hours of May 8 in what authorities described as a coordinated assault.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid in a statement, disclosed that the terrorists launched the attack from multiple directions at about 1:15am, overwhelming parts of the training institution during the incident.
“The officers, who were undergoing specialized operational training at the institution, lost their lives when terrorists launched a coordinated attack on the facility from multiple directions at about 0115hrs,” the statement said.
The Force also reported that numerous Nigerian Army personnel lost their lives while repelling terrorists during the exchange.
According to the statement, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu characterized the fallen policemen as courageous individuals who displayed remarkable dedication to national security via advanced counter-terrorism and tactical training.
He stated that the deceased officers made the ultimate sacrifice for their service to the nation and assured that the force will not forget their sacrifice.
The IGP Tunji Disu extended condolences to the dead families and vowed ongoing support for all touched by the disaster.
“As part of a solidarity visit, the Commissioner of Police in Yobe State, CP Usman Kanfani Jibrin, visited the training facility on behalf of the Inspector-General, where he commiserated with military authorities and surviving trainees,” he said.
He also praised the remaining officers’ heroism and encouraged them to finish their training in memory of their lost colleagues.
The police also informed Nigerians that they were working with the Armed Forces and other security agencies to hunt down and bring the attackers to justice.
The Force reaffirmed its commitment to honoring the memories of the dead officers, calling them heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
