The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced the death of 17 police officers following a terrorist attack on the Nigerian Army Special Forces School in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
According to a statement by the Force Headquarters, the officers were undergoing specialised operational training at the institution when terrorists launched a coordinated assault on the facility in the early hours of May 8, 2026.
The attack reportedly occurred at about 1:15 a.m., with the assailants advancing on the training school from multiple directions. Several personnel of the Nigerian Army were also said to have lost their lives while repelling the attack.
Reacting to the incident, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, described the slain officers as courageous and dedicated personnel who displayed exceptional patriotism and commitment to national security.
The IGP said the officers had been participating in advanced counter-terrorism and tactical training programmes aimed at strengthening national security operations across the country.
He conveyed the condolences of the entire police force to the bereaved families, assuring them that the sacrifices of the fallen officers would never be forgotten.
In a further show of solidarity, the Commissioner of Police in Yobe State, CP Usman Kanfani Jibrin, visited the institution on behalf of the IGP, where he commiserated with the Commandant of the School, Brigadier General A.C. Enuagu, officers of the Nigerian Army, and surviving police personnel undergoing training at the facility.
The police commissioner also commended the resilience and bravery of the surviving officers, urging them to remain steadfast and complete the training programme in honour of their fallen colleagues.
The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Armed Forces and other security agencies to track down and bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice.
The Force also paid tribute to the fallen officers, describing their sacrifice and dedication to duty as a lasting symbol of service to the nation.
