A yet-to-be-determined number of Nigerian Army personnel have been killed in an ambush by militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a faction of Boko Haram, in Borno State.
According to military sources who spoke with Sahara Reporters, the victims included Lieutenant Colonel AS Paiko of the 202 Tank Battalion and Lieutenant Colonel SI Iliyasu of the 222 Battalion.
The attack occurred on Friday, October 17, 2025, while the convoy was en route to Kawuri town, located in the Bama Local Government Area, for a military operation aimed at confronting the insurgents.
SaharaReporters gathered that the convoy came under heavy fire around 9:45 a.m., resulting in the tragic loss of life. While the exact number of casualties remains uncertain, multiple soldiers were reported to have been seriously injured, and several personnel are still unaccounted for.
A military source confirmed, “A clearance operation led by the Commanding Officers (CO) of 202 and 222 Battalions in Bama was ambushed yesterday, resulting in the deaths of both commanders and many other soldiers.”
The attack has caused grave concern within the military, as the ambush has not only claimed the lives of senior officers but has also left many soldiers missing in action. “The bloody encounter also left many of our soldiers missing,” the source added.
According to another source, the ambush occurred after the commanders received intelligence about the presence of terrorists in a small village called Kawuri. The military leaders mobilised their forces to confront the insurgents but were ambushed on their way to the town.
The source further detailed, “There was information that the terrorists were operating in a small village called Kawuri, so the Commanders mobilised their men to go to the village and confront them. However, they were ambushed on their way.”
While the death of Lieutenant Colonel Paiko was confirmed, the fate of Colonel Iliyasu remains uncertain.
“While I can confirm the death of Lieutenant Colonel Paiko of 202 Battalion, I’m not sure about Colonel Iliyasu. However, he was shot, and the last I heard about him was that he was evacuated to the military hospital in Maiduguri. Probably, he died on his way to the hospital due to the gunshot wounds. Even as we are talking, casualties still remain unknown. It’s so sad,” the source explained.
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