The Nigerian Army has said that Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Saidu Paiko, Commanding Officer of the 202 Tank Battalion, was killed in a deadly ambush by insurgents in Borno State on October 17.
According to a statement issued by the Army’s Director of Public Relations, Lt Col. Appolonia Anele, the ambush occurred during a clearance operation under Operation Hadin Kai, in the Kashimiri area of Bama Local Government Area.
“The brave heroes fought for the peace of our great nation. Lt-Col. Paiko “and a few other valiant soldiers paid the supreme price as they fell in battle,” Anele said.
Multiple sources reported that the attack also involved personnel of the 222 Battalion, though the exact casualty figures remain unconfirmed.
According to one account, troops were returning from a successful clearance operation when they were ambushed around 9.45am on Friday, October 17.
The incident adds to a growing number of high-profile losses experienced by the Nigerian military in the ongoing fight against the insurgency in the North-East.
Military sources said that despite the ambush, the troops managed to destroy several insurgent camps during the operation.
One report read, “Troops of Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai … successfully located and destroyed identified Boko Haram camps … However, the encounter took its toll on our side.”
