Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI, under the 21 Special Armoured Brigade, have foiled a planned attack by Boko Haram terrorists around Kashimri general area in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
A statement issued on Monday in Maiduguri by Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, said the operation took place on Oct. 17.
Anele said the troops successfully located and destroyed identified Boko Haram camps in the area, frustrating the terrorists’ plan to attack civilians and disrupt socio-economic activities.
She said the troops engaged the insurgents in a fierce gun duel, during which several terrorists were neutralised while others fled with gunshot wounds.
However, the army spokesperson said the encounter also claimed the lives of the Commanding Officer, 202 Tank Battalion, Lt.-Col. Aliyu Saidu Paiko, and a few other soldiers who paid the supreme price in the line of duty.
“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 said.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, on behalf of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, extended condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers.
“They were not just soldiers but fathers, brothers, and sons who displayed immeasurable courage by taking a final stand in the face of adversity. We stand together in this time of grief,” the COAS was quoted as saying.
Oluyede reaffirmed the Army’s determination to relentlessly pursue all terrorist elements until lasting peace and stability are restored in the region and across the country.
The statement also appealed to members of the public and the media to avoid circulating images of fallen personnel until their next of kin have been duly informed.
“This measure is aimed at preserving the dignity of the fallen heroes and protecting the privacy of their families,” Anele added.
