The Nigerian Army has confirmed the deaths of a Lieutenant Colonel and other soldiers during recent counter-terrorism operations in Borno State, describing them as “brave heroes.”

In a statement, the Director of Army Public Relations, Lt-Col. Appolonia Anele, said the Commanding Officer of the 202 Tank Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Saidu Paiko, along with several other soldiers, “paid the supreme price during battle with terrorists on October 17, 2025.”

She urged the public and media to refrain from sharing images of personnel who have fallen in action until their families have been officially informed, emphasising the need to preserve dignity and privacy.

The statement noted that troops of the Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI under the 21 Special Armoured Brigade successfully thwarted a planned Boko Haram attack around the Kashimri area of Bama Local Government.

The troops located and destroyed Boko Haram camps, preventing attacks on civilians and disruption of socio-economic activities.

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During the operation, soldiers engaged terrorists in a fierce gunfight, neutralising several while others were injured.

“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. These brave heroes fought for the peace of our great nation, and their legacies shall endure forever,” the statement said.

Lt-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff, extended condolences to the families of the fallen, describing them as “not just soldiers but fathers, brothers, and sons who expressed immeasurable courage by taking the last stand in the face of adversity, and we stand together in this time of grief.”

He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to relentlessly pursue all terrorist elements until lasting peace and normalcy are restored in Borno and across the nation.

The Army reiterated its call for restraint in sharing images of fallen personnel, highlighting the importance of “preserving the dignity of such fallen heroes and protecting the privacy of their families.”