ISWAP Executes Nigerian Army Brigade Commander After Deadly Ambush in Borno
A senior Nigerian Army commander, Brigadier General M. Uba, has been killed by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants after the insurgents reportedly intercepted, tracked, and overran his location along the Damboa–Biu axis of Borno State, multiple frontline security operatives confirmed on Sunday.
The fatal development unfolded shortly after the Brigade Commander had taken part in a coordinated air–ground operation that successfully dislodged a cluster of ISWAP cells in the region. Intelligence obtained by PulseNets indicated that the officer had earlier communicated with his superiors to assure them that he was safe and regrouping with his men after the offensive.
However, those familiar with the sequence of events told PulseNets that his communication may have “inadvertently exposed sensitive coordinates”, allowing the insurgents to zero in on his movement.
General Uba was reportedly captured alive, interrogated briefly, and then executed by the terrorists.
Before the tragedy, security reports detailed how Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft had rushed in to support ground troops who came under a heavy ambush during the joint operation. The mission, which the officer personally led, advanced into an area later discovered to be booby-trapped.
After a prolonged exchange of gunfire, the sudden spike in ISWAP fighters forced the commander to order a tactical retreat while placing an urgent call for air support.
NAF aircraft, PulseNets learnt, diverted from ongoing assignments to deliver precision strikes that scattered the insurgents and extracted the commander, his troops, and accompanying Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) operatives.
Meanwhile, senior military chiefs, including the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, had earlier stormed Damboa to coordinate search-and-rescue efforts following the reported abduction of several personnel during the ambush.
Security insiders who spoke to PulseNets revealed that the ISWAP attack, which occurred Friday night, left two soldiers and two CJTF members dead and led to the abduction of Brigadier General Uba alongside other troops.
Although the Army initially denied that the 25 Brigade Commander had been abducted, soldiers on the ground insisted he had not returned to base.
A senior source told PulseNets that “the Brigadier General who was abducted managed to transmit his live location to colleagues”, prompting troops to immediately mobilise to the spot.
“They got to the point, but he was no longer there. We couldn’t tell if his phone went off or if the terrorists seized it,” the source added.
Another military officer further disclosed that the abducted General appeared to have limited access to his phone at some point under duress.
According to him, “He even made a video call to his dry cleaner yesterday morning but told him not to speak.”
Troops deployed to the coordinates returned unsuccessful, though one injured soldier who was abducted alongside the officer was later released. The General and two others, however, remained missing until confirmation of his death filtered in.
In response to the crisis, Brigadier General Mustapha has now been appointed to oversee the 26 Task Force Brigade in Damboa, while units previously mobilised for the rescue mission were withdrawn early Sunday.
Military commanders told PulseNets that:
“Information reaching us is that the Brigadier General was taken with three soldiers. One was shot and abandoned in the bush. Two Majors managed to return to base on foot. A temporary commander has been assigned while the Army Headquarters awaits further confirmation.”
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Top officers also affirmed that General Mustapha has officially assumed duties as acting Brigade Commander while reinforcements continue surveillance and clearance operations across the Damboa corridor.
ISWAP fighters had earlier launched a late-night assault on a Nigerian military convoy, killing soldiers and CJTF members in a coordinated strike that heightened tension across communities in northeastern Nigeria.
