The Nigerian Army has announced the death of the Commanding Officer of the 202 Tank Battalion, Lt.-Col. Aliyu Saidu Paiko and several soldiers who were killed while repelling a terrorist attack in Bama, Borno State, on October 17.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Army spokesperson, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, said the fallen soldiers paid the supreme price during a fierce encounter with Boko Haram insurgents.
“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,” Anele stated.
“These brave heroes fought for the peace of our great nation, and their legacies shall endure forever. The Nigerian Army will continue to honour the weight of their sacrifices, as their loss reminds us of our unyielding resolve to stamp out the scourge of terrorism from Nigeria,” she added.
Anele described the fallen personnel as “not just soldiers, but fathers, brothers, and sons who demonstrated immeasurable courage by taking the last stand in the face of adversity.”
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to pursue all terrorist elements relentlessly until total peace and normalcy are restored in the region and the country at large.
In the spirit of respect and compassion, Anele urged members of the public and the media to refrain from sharing or publishing images of fallen personnel until their next of kin have been duly informed, to preserve their dignity and protect their families’ privacy.
She explained that the officer and soldiers lost their lives when troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, under the 21 Special Armoured Brigade, successfully foiled an attempted Boko Haram attack around the Kashimri general area of Bama Local Government Area.
According to her, the troops had earlier located and destroyed several Boko Haram camps in the area, thereby frustrating the terrorists’ plans to attack civilians and disrupt socio-economic activities. Many of the terrorists were killed in the ensuing gun battle, while others sustained injuries.
