The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed responsibility for the abduction and killing of Brigadier General M. Uba, the Commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade, days after the Nigerian Army initially announced that he was safe following an ambush in Borno State.
General Uba and his team were ambushed on Friday night along the Damboa–Biu road, an area bordering the Sambisa Forest.
While military authorities earlier stated that he survived the attack and was secure, ISWAP has now released a statement and photographs claiming that he was captured and later killed.
PRNigeria, a platform with close links to security agencies, also confirmed that the general was seized and killed after the initial ambush, contrary to the army’s earlier position.
Earlier on Sunday, citing HumAngle, that ISWAP operatives had kidnapped the senior officer during the attack, which also claimed the lives of two soldiers and two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
In an earlier statement, army spokesperson Lt. Col. Appolonia Anele acknowledged the ambush, describing it as a sudden and heavy attack on troops returning from a routine patrol. She dismissed reports of the general’s abduction as “fake”.
However, ISWAP on Monday published an Arabic statement in its Amaq propaganda outlet, claiming it captured General Uba after tracking him down when he attempted to flee the ambush site.
The group said he was interrogated before being executed, and released a collage showing his image in uniform and during his capture.
According to PRNigeria, the general had initially communicated with military superiors after an aerial operation helped him evade the first wave of gunfire.
But intelligence on his movement reportedly enabled the terrorist group to locate and capture him.
Security analysts say this is the first time ISWAP has successfully killed a Nigerian officer of such senior rank, a development experts attribute partly to weaknesses in operational communication channels in the northeast theatre.
As of press time, the Nigerian Army has not issued an official statement confirming the general’s death. Efforts to reach the army spokesperson were unsuccessful.
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