The Borno State Police Command has announced the mourning of its slain Divisional Police Officer (DPO), SP Pius Sunday who was killed by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists while responding to a distress call at his duty post in New Marte, Marte local government area of the state.
In a statement on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the Command’s Spokesman, ASP Nahum Daso said the incident occurred on May 20, 2024 at about 9:09 pm when the DPO of Marte Division received a complaint from one Adam Abatcha, a Senior Community Health Extension Worker (SCHEW) in charge of Maternal and Child Health Clinic New Marte that some unknown gunmen numbering about six invaded his house and attempted to abduct him.
Abatcha told the slain police officer that he struggled and escaped from his abductors before running to the police station.
“The DPO SP Pius Sunday mobilised his men to the scene, sadly the team was ambushed. The DPO was fatally wounded and one Insp Sani Murtala was brushed by a bullet on his thigh.
“The injured victim is currently responding to treatment at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), while the corpse of the DPO has been deposited at the UMTH mortuary,” the police spokesman said.
ASP Daso also revealed that discreet investigation is ongoing on the incident.
“On behalf of Officers and Men of the Command, the Commissioner of Police, CP Yusufu Mohammed Lawal, expresses our heartfelt condolence to the family of the bereaved, ” the statement said.