BORNO, Nigeria (FN) — Boko Haram militants killed a senior Nigerian Army officer and several soldiers during a clash in northeastern Borno State, the military said Monday.
Lt. Col. Aliyu Saidu Paiko, commanding officer of the 202 Tank Battalion, died in combat while leading troops in a counteroffensive against insurgents near Kashimri in Bama Local Government Area, according to a statement by Maj. Appolonia Anele, acting director of Army public relations.
The attack occurred on Oct. 17 as troops under Operation Hadin Kai disrupted a planned assault by the extremist group. The military said it neutralized several fighters and forced others to retreat with injuries.
Despite the tactical success, the army acknowledged suffering casualties. Anele described the fallen soldiers as “valiant” and said their deaths underscored the cost of Nigeria’s ongoing battle against terrorism.
Following the clash, troops located and dismantled multiple Boko Haram camps in the area, which the army said were intended as staging grounds for attacks on civilians and infrastructure.
Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Nigeria’s chief of army staff, extended condolences to the families of the deceased, calling them “fathers, brothers, and sons who showed immeasurable courage in the face of adversity.”
Oluyede reaffirmed the military’s commitment to pursuing insurgent groups until peace is restored across the region. He said the army would continue to honor the sacrifices of its personnel.
The army urged the public and media to refrain from sharing images of the deceased until their families have been formally notified, citing respect for privacy and dignity.
Boko Haram has waged a violent insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast for over a decade, displacing millions and killing tens of thousands. The group frequently targets military convoys and rural communities.
In a separate incident in May, armed bandits killed two soldiers in Benue State and reportedly stole military-grade weapons, including AK-47 rifles and a submachine gun, according to local sources.
