Four Policemen Killed as ISWAP Fighters Attack Police Station in Borno
By Matthew Eloyi
In a brazen violence believed to be orchestrated by fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), a police station in the Nganzai Local Government Area of Borno State fell victim to a deadly attack, resulting in the tragic loss of four policemen and the theft of a cache of ammunition.
According to sources, the ISWAP militants descended upon the police station situated in Gajiram town, unleashing a barrage of gunfire upon the officers on duty. The attack, which occurred late Friday, reportedly saw the assailants setting parts of the station ablaze.
Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, a security source disclosed the harrowing details of the assault, stating, “Some of the police officers were also lucky to have survived the onslaught of the terror attack, but the unfortunate four officers paid the supreme price while on active duty.”
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos and devastation in the aftermath of the attack, with a local vigilante group confirming that the perpetrators had fled the scene before military reinforcements could arrive.
Confirming the tragic incident, ASP Nahum Kenneth, spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, stated, “We received reports that insurgents attacked the Gajiram Police Station around 1 am today, Saturday, February 3. Four policemen indeed paid the supreme price in an exchange of fire with the terrorists when security agents quickly mobilised to repel the attack.”
Kenneth further assured that “normalcy has since been restored in the town” following the swift response of security forces.
The assault on the police station underscores the persistent threat posed by insurgent groups in the region, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by security forces in safeguarding communities against such attacks.