The Nigerian Army has confirmed an ambush on its troops by Boko Haram terrorists near Kashimri village in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
A commanding officer and six soldiers were killed in the attack, which occurred Friday evening when terrorists targeted a military convoy along the Bama–Kashimri route.
In a statement released Monday, Lt. Col. Appolonia Anele, acting army spokesperson, said troops under the Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai deployed to the 21 Special Armored Brigade thwarted a planned terrorist attack on October 17, 2025.
She said the troops launched a targeted offensive, destroying identified Boko Haram camps in the area and engaging the insurgents in a fierce gun battle.
According to the army, several terrorists were killed, while others fled with gunshot wounds.
However, the operation came at a heavy cost.
The commanding officer of the 202 Tank Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Saidu Paiko, was killed in the line of duty alongside six other personnel.
Lt. Col. Anele said the names of the fallen soldiers are being withheld until their families are notified.
“These brave heroes fought for the peace of our great nation, and their legacies shall endure forever,” the statement read.
“Their loss reminds us of our unyielding resolve to stamp out the scourge of terrorism from Nigeria.”
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, extended condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers.
He described them as fathers, brothers, and sons who displayed immeasurable courage by taking the last stand in the face of adversity.
He reaffirmed the army’s commitment to pursuing terrorist elements relentlessly and restoring lasting peace to the region.
The army also urged the public and media to refrain from publishing images of the fallen soldiers until their families have been officially informed.
It said this was to protect the dignity of the deceased and respect the privacy of their grieving loved ones.
