Curfew imposed in Borno village after ISWAP terrorists kill DPO
New Marte, a village in Borno State, is now under a curfew following the tragic killing of a Superintendent of Police by suspected Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on Monday night.
Reports indicate that the ISWAP fighters ambushed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and his team in New Marte, leading to the death of the officer.
A security source disclosed that the terrorists had targeted Dr. Adamu Fatai in the village initially. Dr. Fatai rushed to the police station upon noticing suspicious movements to alert the DPO. The police responded to the threat, but the ISWAP militants shot the DPO and injured others around 2 am while the residents were asleep.
According to the source, the attackers infiltrated the town by foot without any vehicles or motorcycles.
The wounded policemen were immediately taken to Maiduguri General Hospital, alongside the body of the late DPO, SP Pius Sunday Swanta.
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A week before this incident, ISWAP terrorists had also launched an attack in New Marte, resulting in the death of the head of the civilian Joint Task Force in the area.
Following the DPO’s death, residents said troops ordered them to remain indoors, accusing them of collaborating with ISWAP.
“The soldiers accused us of being collaborators with ISWAP. They imposed a curfew and warned that anyone who ventured outside would be killed. They intend to conduct house-to-house searches,” a resident, who does not want to be named, said.
Residents expressed their concern, citing that the DPO had been a defender of the community for two years and urged Governor Babagana Zulum to intervene.
Borno Police command spokesman, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, confirmed the attack and assured that investigations are underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.
