A senior Nigerian Army officer, Brigadier General M. Uba, has been killed in Borno State after insurgents belonging to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) intercepted and tracked his location on the Damboa–Biu road, security sources have confirmed.
The incident unfolded following a joint military operation targeting insurgents in the troubled region. According to multiple reports, the commander had successfully led air and ground forces against insurgent targets near Damboa. After reporting his safety to superiors and confirming the successful regrouping of his men, Brigadier General Uba’s subsequent communication may have inadvertently exposed his location to ISWAP fighters.
Sources indicated that after intercepting his coordinates, ISWAP militants launched a violent ambush. “The Brigadier General who was abducted managed to send his live location to colleagues,” a military source reported, adding that troops rushed to the shared location but found no trace of him. The attackers, displaying a high degree of organization, reportedly captured the commander alive, interrogated him briefly, then executed him. The tragic killing occurred after a fierce exchange of gunfire with troops under Uba’s command, who had advanced into an area unknowingly rigged with traps laid by the militants.
The clash prompted the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to intervene, and NAF aircraft diverted to the ambush scene to strike at the insurgents, allowing some ground troops and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members to retreat. “Even yesterday morning, he made a video call to his dry cleaner but warned him not to talk,” a source revealed, indicating that General Uba still had access to his phone in captivity.
The attack resulted in a mounting death toll. Security sources confirmed that two soldiers and two CJTF members were killed during the ambush, with local media reporting up to seven total fatalities among the troops. One soldier, who was shot and taken alongside the commander, was later found and freed, but Brigadier General Uba and two others remained missing as of the last rescue attempt.
In response to the deadly attack and abductions, top military officials— including Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai—stormed the Damboa base to lead ongoing rescue efforts for the missing personnel. “Information reaching us revealed that the Brigadier General was abducted alongside three other soldiers. However, one of the soldiers was shot and left behind in the bush,” a senior officer commented.
Amid widespread panic in the region, another commander, Brigadier General Mustapha, was temporarily appointed to lead the 26 Task Force Brigade in Damboa. According to senior military sources, “Two Majors managed to walk back to camp after the attack,” underscoring the danger and intensity of the ISWAP assault.
The Nigerian Army has refrained from confirming details of the execution, although investigations have been launched to clarify the circumstances. When contacted, Major Edward Buba, spokesperson for the military, stated, “We have confirmed that our soldiers encountered challenges in operations in the area,” promising that comprehensive details would be released following the investigation.
