Lt. Col. Aliyu Paiko and several soldiers killed during a Boko Haram attack in Kashimri, Borno State; Operation Hadin Kai disrupted insurgent plans.
Boko Haram insurgents have killed Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Saidu Paiko, Commanding Officer of the 202 Tank Battalion, along with several soldiers during an attack in the Kashimri area of Bama Local Government Area, Borno State.
The incident was confirmed by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Appolonia Anele, in a statement released on Monday. She said troops of Operation Hadin Kai successfully foiled a planned Boko Haram attack but suffered casualties in the process.
“Troops of the 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. 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,” Anele stated.
The spokesperson added that soldiers located and destroyed several Boko Haram camps in the area, disrupting the insurgents’ plans to target civilians and destabilize socio-economic activities. “During the operation, the troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce gunfight, neutralising several, while others fled with injuries,” she said.
Describing the fallen soldiers as heroes, Anele assured that their legacies would be honoured. “The Nigerian Army will continue to honour their sacrifices. Their loss reminds us of our unyielding resolve to stamp out terrorism from our great nation,” she said.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, extended condolences to the families of the deceased, calling them “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 State and across Nigeria.
The army also appealed to the public and media to refrain from sharing images of the fallen soldiers until their next of kin have been notified, to preserve dignity and respect for their families.
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