Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has condoled with families of the Commanding Officer, 202 Tank Battalion, Lt.-Col. Aliyu Said Paiko, and some soldiers, who died in the battle to repel terrorists in Bama, Borno State, on October 17.
 
“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.
 
“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 comes with the reminder of our unyielding resolve to stamp out the scourge of terrorism from our great nation, Nigeria.
  
“They were not just soldiers but fathers, brothers, and sons who expressed immeasurable courage by taking the last stand in the face of adversity, and we stand together in this time of grief. 
  
“The Chief of Army Staff also reaffirms the Nigerian Army’s unwavering resolve to pursue all terrorist elements relentlessly until total peace and normalcy are restored in the region and the nation by extension,” spokesperson for the Army, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, lamented in a statement, yesterday.
  
She explained that the officer and soldiers lost their lives when troops of Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai, under the 21 Special Armoured Brigade, successfully foiled a planned attack by Boko Haram terrorists around Kashimiri general area of Bama Local Council of Borno State.
  
Anele said the troops had successfully located and destroyed identified Boko Haram camps in the area, thereby frustrating the terrorists’ plans to attack civilians and disrupt socio-economic activities in the area, and killing many of the terrorists in a fierce gun fight, while others suffered injuries.
  
Besides the Commanding Officer, the casualties include five soldiers, and three members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF).
 
Several other soldiers, including the Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion, Konduga, sustained injuries, while one soldier was abducted by the assailants.
  
The troops, who had conducted a clearance operation on Friday, were ambushed while returning to Bama.
  
A survivor said the incident occurred at Kashimiri, located about 25 kilometres from Bama town and 93 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
  
He further revealed that troops under the Joint Task Force North East, codenamed Operation Hadin Kai, killed dozens of the terrorists during the clearance operation, with several others fleeing with gunshot wounds.