By Obasola Olatunde
A battalion commander of the Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Saidu Paiko, has been killed in a deadly ambush by Boko Haram terrorists along the Ngamdu Maiduguri road in Borno State.
Military sources confirmed that the attack occurred while troops were on a clearance operation in the volatile region. The insurgents reportedly opened heavy fire on the soldiers, leading to a fierce gun duel.
Lt. Col. Paiko, who commanded one of the frontline battalions of Operation Hadin Kai, was hit during the exchange and later succumbed to his injuries. Several other soldiers also sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Security operatives have since intensified surveillance and combing operations around Ngamdu to track the fleeing insurgents.
The late commander was widely described by colleagues as a gallant officer committed to the counterinsurgency campaign in the Northeast.
His death adds to a growing list of senior officers who have lost their lives in Nigeria’s prolonged fight against terrorism.