The Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday gathered in a sombre wave of grief and resolve through the Force Headquarters to honour 17 officers of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) who lost their lives in a brutal terror attack on a specialised training facility.
The officers, who had been undergoing advanced operational training, were killed when armed assailants launched a coordinated assault from multiple directions, plunging the facility into chaos. In the course of repelling the attack, several personnel of the Nigerian Army also paid the ultimate price, further deepening the national sense of loss.
Against this backdrop of tragedy, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, led a solemn ceremony in Abuja, where he paid tribute to the fallen officers and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to duty, sacrifice, and national service.
The ceremony, marked by emotional reflection and military decorum, became a moment of collective mourning as senior officers, colleagues, and families of the deceased gathered to honour those described as heroes who answered the ultimate call of duty.
IGP Disu used the occasion to appeal for greater public support for the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, stressing that their effectiveness depends not only on institutional resolve but also on national cooperation.
He assured Nigerians that despite the painful loss, the police would remain steadfast in their constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property across the country.
“We want every Nigerian to feel, and to know in their hearts, that there are men and women in uniform who wake up every morning with one purpose: to serve, to protect, and if called upon, to give everything,” IGP Disu said.
Reflecting on the weight of sacrifice borne by the slain officers, the police chief noted the emotional and human cost behind every loss suffered in the line of duty.
“Behind every fallen officer is a family left behind, a future cut short, and a nation that owes them an immeasurable debt of gratitude. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten, and we solemnly pledge that their deaths will not be in vain.”
Reaffirming institutional resilience, he stressed that the Nigeria Police Force would not be deterred by violence or intimidation.
“The Nigeria Police Force will not waver. We will continue to show up, to stand firm, and to give our very best in service to this great nation,” IGP Disu emphasised.
The IGP also extended condolences to the bereaved families, acknowledging the depth of their pain and assuring them of institutional support in the difficult period.
“To the families of our fallen heroes, the Nigeria Police Force stands with you in this painful moment. We share in your grief, and we remain committed to walking this difficult road alongside you.”
As the ceremony concluded, the mood remained heavy, with officers observing moments of reflection for their colleagues whose lives were cut short during training meant to prepare them for frontline security operations.
The tragedy has once again underscored the risks faced by security personnel in the line of duty, as well as the persistent threat posed by armed groups targeting state institutions.
