THE Nigeria Police Force, supported by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), successfully repelled a Boko Haram attack on a military base in Banki, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State, over the weekend.
Community sources who spoke with journalists commended the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for his courage and leadership during the late-night assault.
According to a resident identified as Aminu, the DPO refused to flee despite being advised to do so.
“He organized his men and defended the community. Even when some soldiers retreated to Cameroon, he encouraged us to stay and protect our town,” Aminu said.
Another source revealed that the police, with help from the Civilian JTF, successfully secured the Divisional Police Headquarters and the Nigeria Customs Service posts along the border with Cameroon.
A security source explained that confusion surrounding the deployment of an Air Force jet contributed to the soldiers’ temporary retreat.
He said troops had earlier moved to reinforce another town under attack but were recalled when they were told that a fighter jet was on its way to engage the insurgents.
“Unfortunately, before we returned, Boko Haram had already surrounded Banki. The troops were overwhelmed by the number of insurgents,” the source added, noting that communication delays also hampered their response.
He said the commanding officer narrowly escaped after attempting to resist the attackers, adding that the darkness made it difficult to distinguish between friend and foe during the battle.
Following the incident, Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, visited Banki on Sunday to sympathize with residents and commend their bravery.
“I came to salute your courage. Your resilience is inspiring,” the governor said. “We will not allow a few bad elements to destroy a community whose economy is thriving. We will strengthen security and support youth volunteers, hunters, and vigilantes to protect this area.”
As part of ongoing recovery efforts, Governor Zulum announced the resettlement of three nearby communities—Kumshe, Tarmu’a, and Bula Yobe—promising improved security and infrastructure.
He also confirmed that repairs on the Banki road had commenced, with 30 trucks already deployed.
Zulum encouraged residents, especially youths, to participate in the voter registration exercise and traders to cooperate with security agencies to sustain peace.
A former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Barrister Mike Ejiofor, however, urged caution, saying displaced persons should not be returned until the affected areas are fully stabilized.
“If the area is secured, civil defence personnel can be deployed to maintain order and reassure the people,” he advised.