Boko Haram insurgents have killed the Commanding Officer of the 202 Tank Battalion, Lt. Col. Aliyu Paiko, along with several soldiers, during a deadly confrontation in the Kashimri area of Bama Local Government Area, Borno State.
The incident was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Appolonia Anele.
According to Anele, troops under Operation Hadin Kai successfully repelled a planned terrorist attack but suffered losses during the intense battle.
“Troops of Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI under the 21 Special Armoured Brigade on 17 October 2025 successfully foiled an attack planned by Boko Haram terrorists around the Kashimri general area of Bama Local Government Area, Borno State.
“However, the encounter took its toll on our side, as the Commanding Officer, 202 Tank Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Saidu Paiko, and a few other valiant soldiers paid the supreme price as they fell in battle,” the statement read.
She explained that troops destroyed several Boko Haram camps and thwarted the insurgents’ plans to target civilians and disrupt normal activities in the area.
“During the operation, the troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce gunfight, neutralised several, while others fled with injuries,” she added.
Anele hailed the slain soldiers as patriots who fought to defend Nigeria’s peace and sovereignty.
“The Nigerian Army will continue to honour the weight of their sacrifices. Their loss reminds us of our unyielding resolve to stamp out the scourge of terrorism from our great nation,” the statement said.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, extended condolences to the families of the deceased, describing them as “fathers, brothers, and sons who showed immeasurable courage in the face of adversity.”
He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to pursue all terrorist elements until lasting peace is restored in the North-East and across Nigeria.
The army also appealed to the public and media outlets to avoid circulating images of the fallen soldiers until their families have been officially informed, out of respect for their privacy.
In a related development, two soldiers were killed by bandits during an attack in Ijaha Ikobi, Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, in May, where the attackers reportedly stole military weapons, including rifles and a submachine gun.
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