In a somber confirmation that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria's military and civilian communities, President Bola Tinubu has verified the execution of Brigadier General Musa Uba by militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), days after the senior officer was abducted during a deadly ambush in Borno State. The incident, which unfolded on November 14, 2025, has exposed deepening vulnerabilities in Nigeria's counterterrorism efforts and reignited national debates on security strategy amid a resurgent jihadist threat.
The ambush occurred late Friday evening near Wajiroko village in the Azir-Multe axis of Damboa Local Government Area, a volatile hotspot in northeastern Nigeria's Borno State, where ISWAP and its Boko Haram affiliates have long contested control. Brig. Gen. Uba, commander of the Nigerian Army's 25 Task Force Brigade, was leading a joint patrol comprising army troops and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), a local vigilante group aiding military operations. The convoy was returning from a routine security sweep aimed at safeguarding remote communities from insurgent incursions when ISWAP fighters struck with coordinated precision.
Initial reports from local sources and security analysts indicated that the militants, armed with sophisticated weaponry including rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns, overwhelmed the patrol in a hail of gunfire. Two Nigerian soldiers and two CJTF operatives were killed outright in the initial clash, their bodies recovered amid the wreckage of scorched vehicles and scattered ammunition. Brig. Gen. Uba, wounded during the firefight, initially evaded capture but was tracked down by a pursuing ISWAP unit near a nearby village on Saturday, according to the group's own account published via its Amaq propaganda channel. Photos released by ISWAP depicted the general in captivity, his camouflage uniform bloodied around the legs, juxtaposed against an earlier image of him in his office—a stark visual testament to the militants' claim of dominance.
The Nigerian Army's response was swift but contradictory, fueling a 48-hour fog of misinformation that eroded public trust. On Saturday, November 15, the acting director of army public relations issued a statement denying any abduction, claiming the brigade commander was safe and unharmed after troops repelled the attack. The army even circulated a video purportedly showing Uba confirming his well-being, though misinformation, including AI-generated deepfake videos, spread rapidly online. High-level reinforcements, including the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, rushed to Damboa to coordinate a rescue operation, but contact with Uba was lost shortly after his last reported signals.
ISWAP shattered the army's narrative on Monday, November 17, with a detailed statement via its Amaq news agency. The group boasted of capturing and executing a senior Nigerian army officer after a successful ambush, claiming Uba was interrogated before being killed as retribution for military operations in the Lake Chad Basin region. This marked the first time a brigadier general had been captured and killed by insurgents since the insurgency began in 2009, a grim escalation even compared to the 2021 death of Major General Dzarma Zirkusu in a similar ambush.
President Tinubu's confirmation came on Tuesday, November 18, through a statement released by his special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga. "As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of our soldiers and officers on active duty," the president said, expressing personal grief over the incident. He extended heartfelt condolences to Uba's family, the Nigerian military, and the families of the fallen CJTF members, vowing that their sacrifices would not be in vain. Vice President Kashim Shettima, during a visit to Kebbi State, pledged that the nation would honor the late general and ensure his family is supported.
The Nigerian military has since remained silent on the matter, prompting criticism from political leaders and civil society. Opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, condemned the initial denial and lack of transparency, accusing the military of misleading the public at a time of national mourning. Prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi described Uba as a martyr and called for reflection on the sacrifices made in the fight against extremism.
Brig. Gen. Uba's death represents more than a personal tragedy—it is a symbolic blow to Nigeria's long-running counterinsurgency campaign. Since 2009, the Boko Haram insurgency and its ISWAP offshoot have claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced nearly two million people, mostly in Borno State, with spillover effects across the Lake Chad region. ISWAP, which broke away from Boko Haram in 2016, has increasingly targeted military personnel rather than civilians, using ambushes, improvised explosive devices, and intelligence gathered from local informants. Analysts attribute the group’s resilience to underfunded military intelligence, troop fatigue, and the complex socio-economic drivers that continue to fuel recruitment.
In a separate but related development highlighting Nigeria’s multi-dimensional security crisis, President Tinubu has ordered an urgent rescue operation following the abduction of 25 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The attack, carried out in the early hours of November 17, 2025, saw armed bandits storm the school, kill the vice principal, Hassan Makuku, and abduct the students amid gunfire. Kebbi State police confirmed the incident and launched a manhunt.
The president, briefed on intelligence warnings that had reportedly been ignored, described the attack as a “heartless assault on education” and issued clear directives for the immediate rescue of the girls. Information Minister Mohammed Idris announced the full mobilization of military, police, and intelligence assets. Vice President Shettima, who visited Kebbi shortly after, reassured distraught parents that the federal government was doing everything possible to bring the girls home safely.
Tinubu used the twin tragedies to call for greater community involvement in national security. “Our security forces cannot succeed in isolation,” he said. “I urge all Nigerians—traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth, and citizens—to share credible intelligence with the military, police, and DSS. Together, we can protect our communities and defeat these criminals.”
As Nigeria mourns Brig. Gen. Musa Uba and prays for the safe return of the Kebbi schoolgirls, the nation faces a stark reminder of the persistent threats it continues to battle—jihadist insurgency in the northeast, banditry in the northwest, and separatist agitation in the southeast. The sacrifices of Uba and his fallen comrades now stand as both a rallying cry and a sobering testament to the high cost of securing Africa’s most populous nation.
