Nigerian Army foils Boko Haram attack, kills several terrorists in Borno
Troops of the Nigerian Army have launched a major offensive on suspected Boko Haram hideouts in Borno State, killing several terrorists and thwarting a planned attack around the Kashimri general area of Bama Local Government Area.
According to a statement on Monday by Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, the operation was carried out by troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, under the 21 Special Armoured Brigade.
Anele said the troops successfully located and destroyed multiple Boko Haram camps, frustrating the terrorists’ plans to attack civilians and disrupt socio-economic activities in the area.
“The troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle and neutralised several, while others fled with gunshot injuries,” the statement said.
However, the Army confirmed that the encounter also claimed the lives of the Commanding Officer of 202 Tank Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Saidu Paiko, and a few other soldiers.
“These brave heroes fought for the peace of our great nation. Their legacies shall endure forever,” Anele stated, adding that the Nigerian Army remains committed to eliminating terrorism across the country.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, extended his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, describing them as courageous men who sacrificed their lives for national unity and peace.
“They were not just soldiers but fathers, brothers, and sons who took the last stand in the face of adversity. We stand together in this moment of grief,” Oluyede said.
He reaffirmed the Army’s resolve to pursue all terrorist elements relentlessly until total peace and normalcy are restored in the North-East and the country at large.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has appealed to the public and media to refrain from publishing images of fallen soldiers until their families have been formally informed, to preserve their dignity and respect the privacy of their next of kin.