10/18/2025
A yet-to-be ascertained number of personnel of the Nigerian Army have been reportedly killed after an ambush by militants from the Islamic State-backed faction of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād in Borno State.
Among those k!lled according to military sources were commanding officers of 202 Tank Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel AS Paiko and that of 222 Battalion identified as Lieutenant Colonel Col SI Iliyasu, SaharaReporters gathered.
The convoy was on its way to Kawuri town, Bama Local Government Area around 09:45am on Friday, October 17, 2025 for a military operation against the insurgents when it came under fire.
Apart from the dead bodies recovered, many other soldiers were seriously injured while a yet-to-be ascertained number of personnel are also still missing, SaharaReporters further reports.
“A clearance operation led by both the CO 222 Battalion and CO 202 Battalion Bama was ambushed yesterday leading to the deaths of both commanders and many other soldiers,” a source told SaharaReporters.
“The bloody encounter also left many of our soldiers missing.”
Another source added, “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 I can confirm the death of Lieutenant Colonel Paiko of 202 Battalion, I’m not sure about Colonel SI Iliyasu, however, he was shot and the last I heard about him was his evacuation to the military hospital in Maiduguri. Probably he died on his way to the hospital because of the gunshots. Even as we are talking, casualties still remain unknown, so sad.”
Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province, have killed thousands and displaced millions in North-Eastern Nigeria.
The Nigerian military has repeatedly claimed that the insurgency had been largely defeated and frequently underplays any losses.
In the past months, soldiers have been targeted by the insurgents, who lay ambush on their path.
Source: Sahara Reporters
