Nigerian Army Officers Killed in Deadly ISWAP Ambush in Borno

A tragic ambush by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has left several Nigerian Army personnel dead in Borno State, including two commanding officers.

According to military sources, the attack claimed the lives of Lieutenant Colonel A.S. Paiko, commander of the 202 Tank Battalion, and Lieutenant Colonel S.I. Iliyasu, commander of the 222 Battalion.

The soldiers were reportedly on their way to Kawuri town in Bama Local Government Area around 9:45 a.m. on Friday, October 17, 2025, when their convoy came under heavy gunfire from ISWAP militants.

Sources revealed that the operation was a joint clearance mission targeting suspected terrorist hideouts in the area. However, the troops were ambushed before they could reach their destination.

“A clearance operation led by the COs of 202 and 222 Battalions was ambushed, resulting in the deaths of both commanders and several soldiers,” a military insider disclosed.

“Many others are still missing, while some sustained serious injuries,” the source added.

Another officer who spoke anonymously said the troops had received intelligence about terrorist movements near Kawuri village and were heading there to confront them when the ambush occurred.

“Lieutenant Colonel Paiko died instantly, while Colonel Iliyasu was shot and evacuated to the Maiduguri military hospital. We later heard he didn’t make it due to his wounds. Casualties are still being counted—it’s heartbreaking,” the officer said.

Boko Haram and its ISWAP faction have continued to launch attacks in North-Eastern Nigeria, killing thousands and displacing millions despite repeated claims by the military that the insurgency has been weakened.

In recent months, soldiers have increasingly become targets of ambushes by the terrorist group, particularly in Borno and Yobe States.