Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, under the 21 Special Armoured Brigade, have successfully repelled a planned Boko Haram attack around the Kashimri general area of Bama Local Government Area, Borno State.
According to a statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, the operation took place on 17 October 2025. The troops reportedly located and destroyed several identified Boko Haram hideouts, thwarting the terrorists’ plans to target civilians and disrupt socio-economic activities in the region.
During the operation, the troops engaged the insurgents in a fierce gun battle, neutralizing several of them while others fled with injuries.
However, the Army disclosed that the encounter resulted in the loss of some personnel, including the Commanding Officer of the 202 Tank Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Saidu Paiko, who, alongside a few other soldiers, paid the supreme price.
“Their bravery and sacrifice will forever be remembered,” the statement read. “They fought valiantly for the peace and unity of our nation, and the Nigerian Army will continue to honour their memory.”
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, extended his condolences to the families of the fallen officers and soldiers, describing them as courageous patriots who demonstrated exceptional gallantry in the face of adversity.
He reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to relentlessly pursuing terrorist elements until lasting peace and stability are achieved across the North-East and the nation at large.
In the spirit of respect and compassion, the Nigerian Army appealed to members of the public and the media to refrain from publishing images of the fallen soldiers until their next of kin have been duly informed, in order to preserve their dignity and protect the privacy of their families.
