Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has doubled down on its claim that it killed Brigadier General M. Uba during an ambush on a military convoy in Borno State, contradicting the Nigerian Army’s assertion that the senior officer survived the attack.
The ambush occurred on Friday along the Damboa–Wajiroko road as troops and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) operatives were transporting military equipment. ISWAP fighters opened fire on the convoy, sparking a fierce gun battle.
Military sources said the insurgents overpowered parts of the convoy, seized at least 17 military motorcycles, and killed two soldiers and two CJTF operatives before retreating.
Following the incident, unverified reports circulated that Brigadier General Uba had been abducted. The Nigerian Army swiftly debunked the rumours.
In a statement on Saturday, army spokesperson Onyema Anele said General Uba “fought through the ambush with superior firepower,” forcing the attackers to flee. She added that he returned safely to base and assumed full command of his troops.
Uba also appeared in a video message, stating that he was alive, unharmed, and still leading operations.
But international news agency Reuters reported that ISWAP, in a statement released on its Amaq propaganda channel, claimed it had captured and executed the general after the ambush.
The insurgent group’s claim has not been independently verified, and the Nigerian military has yet to issue a response to this latest development.
The conflicting accounts come amid renewed concerns about insurgent activity along critical routes in Borno, where ISWAP continues to mount coordinated ambushes despite sustained counterterrorism efforts in the region.
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