At least 17 police officers and several Nigerian Army personnel have been killed following a coordinated terrorist attack on the Nigerian Army Special Forces School in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, authorities have confirmed.
The attack, which occurred at the training facility in the North-East theatre of operations, was carried out by suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a group linked to prolonged insurgency activities in the region.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) confirmed the incident on Saturday through its spokesperson, Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, who said the slain officers were undergoing specialised counter-terrorism and tactical training when the terrorists struck.
According to the statement, the attackers launched a coordinated assault from multiple directions, overwhelming parts of the facility during the early hours of the operation.
“The officers paid the supreme price in service to the nation following a terrorist attack on the Nigerian Army Special Forces School, Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State,” the statement said.
Security sources said the assault occurred despite heightened military operations in the North-East, where troops under Operation Hadin Kai had, just days earlier on May 8, repelled a similar coordinated attack on military formations in Yobe State.
In that earlier encounter, insurgents were said to have attacked from multiple axes under cover of darkness but were met with what the military described as “devastating firepower.”
The latest attack, however, breached parts of the training facility, leading to heavy casualties among security personnel, including both police officers and soldiers attached to the Nigerian Army Special Forces School.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, described the slain officers as “courageous and dedicated personnel” who were committed to advancing national security through specialised training.
He extended condolences to the families of the deceased, assuring that their sacrifices would not be forgotten.
Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Usman Jibrin, who visited the training institution on behalf of the Inspector-General, commiserated with the commandant of the school, A.C. Enuagu, senior military officers, and surviving trainees.
He urged personnel at the facility to remain resolute and complete their training in honour of their fallen colleagues.
“The Inspector-General of Police assures Nigerians that the Force, working closely with the Armed Forces and other security agencies, will sustain ongoing efforts to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice,” Placid added.
Security operations are reportedly ongoing in the area, as military and police authorities intensify efforts to track down the attackers and prevent further breaches in the volatile North-East corridor.
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