Boko Haram Kills Army Commander, Several Soldiers In Borno Attack
Boko Haram terrorists have killed the Commanding Officer of the 202 Tank Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Saidu Paiko, and several soldiers during a fierce encounter in the Kashimri area of Bama Local Government Area, Borno State.
The Nigerian Army, in a statement released on Monday by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Major Appolonia Anele, confirmed the incident, saying the troops of Operation Hadin Kai successfully foiled a planned terrorist attack but suffered casualties in the process.
According to the statement, the encounter occurred on October 17, 2025, when troops under the 21 Special Armoured Brigade engaged Boko Haram terrorists in a heated gunfight, preventing them from carrying out an assault on civilians in the area.
“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,” Major Anele said.
She noted that the troops destroyed several Boko Haram camps during the operation and neutralised many of the insurgents, forcing others to flee with gunshot wounds.
Anele described the fallen soldiers as gallant heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for Nigeria’s peace and stability, adding that the Army would continue to honour their memory.
“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,” she said.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, also extended his 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 Army’s commitment to pursuing all terrorist elements until peace and normalcy are fully restored in Borno and other parts of the country affected by insurgency.
The Army urged the public and media practitioners to refrain from sharing images of the fallen soldiers until their next of kin have been officially notified, in order to respect their dignity and the privacy of their families.
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