The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the deaths of 17 police officers following a terrorist attack on the Nigerian Army Special Forces School in Buni Yadi, in Gujba local government area of Yobe State.
The officers were undergoing specialised operational training at the military facility when the attackers struck in the early hours of 8 May, in what authorities described as a coordinated assault.
According to a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, the terrorists attacked the institution from multiple directions at about 1.15am, overwhelming parts of the training facility during the operation.
“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 police also confirmed that several personnel of the Nigerian Army were killed while attempting to repel the attackers during the exchange of fire.
The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, described the slain officers as courageous personnel who showed exceptional commitment to national security through advanced counterterrorism and tactical training.
According to the statement, the police chief said the officers had paid the “supreme price” in service to the nation and assured that their sacrifice would not be forgotten.
Disu extended condolences to the bereaved families and pledged continued institutional support for those affected by the attack.
The statement added that the Commissioner of Police in Yobe State, Usman Kanfani Jibrin, visited the training facility on behalf of the inspector general to commiserate with military authorities and surviving trainees.
He also praised the resilience of officers who survived the attack and encouraged them to complete their training in honour of their fallen colleagues.
The Nigeria Police Force said security agencies were continuing joint operations with the armed forces to track down those responsible for the assault and bring them to justice.
The force reiterated its commitment to honouring the slain officers, describing them as personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
