MAIDUGURI — Troops of Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai, under the 21 Special Armoured Brigade, have thwarted a planned Boko Haram attack in the Kashimri general area of Bama Local Government Area, Borno State, the Nigerian Army said on Sunday.
Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Appolonia Aele, said forces “located and destroyed identified Boko Haram camps” during a clearance operation that disrupted the militants’ plan to target civilians and upend local economic activity. A fierce firefight ensued, “neutralising several” insurgents while others fled with injuries, she added.
The Army confirmed the death of the Commanding Officer of 202 Tank Battalion, Lt. Col. Aliyu Paiko, alongside “a few other valiant soldiers,” who were killed in action. “These brave heroes fought for the peace of our great nation, and their legacies shall endure forever,” the statement read.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, extended condolences to the bereaved families and pledged unrelenting pressure on terrorist networks. “We will pursue all terrorist elements relentlessly until total peace and normalcy are restored in the region,” he said.
The Army also appealed to the public and media to refrain from sharing images of personnel killed in operations until next of kin are formally notified, citing the need to preserve the dignity of fallen soldiers and protect family privacy.
Operation Hadin Kai has intensified counterinsurgency sweeps across Borno in recent weeks, aiming to degrade remaining Boko Haram enclaves and secure communities rebuilding after years of conflict.
