Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed it killed a Nigerian army brigadier general, identified as M. Uba, after ambushing a military convoy along Damboa Road in Borno state.
The ambush reportedly occurred on Friday along Wajiroko axis of Damboa Road, Borno, as soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were transporting military equipment.
According to ISWAP’s statement, circulated via its Amaq propaganda channel and cited by Reuters, the group said its fighters opened fire on the convoy, triggering a fierce gun duel in which they claim Brigadier General Uba was captured and later executed.
During the attack, ISWAP fighters allegedly seized at least 17 military motorcycles. Two CJTF operatives and two soldiers were also confirmed killed in the exchange of fire.
Army spokesperson Onyema Anele had earlier dismissed the reports, insisting that the senior officer not only survived but led the response against the insurgents.
Anele said Uba “battled the insurgents’ ambush with superior firepower,” forcing the attackers to retreat and abandon their mission, after which he purportedly led troops back safely to base. She confirmed the deaths of two CJTF members and two soldiers in the firefight but maintained that the brigadier general was unharmed.
Uba was also said to have appeared in a video message after the incident, affirming that he was “alive, unharmed, and fully in command.”
ISWAP’s counter-claim
In its new claim, ISWAP alleges that the ambush was successful, that the senior officer was captured alive, and that he was later executed by the group.
The Nigerian Army has yet to issue a fresh statement responding to ISWAP’s latest claim as of the time of this report.
The incident, if confirmed, would mark one of the most significant single losses of a senior officer to insurgents in the north-east theatre in recent years, and could further intensify scrutiny on security operations in Borno and the wider Lake Chad region.
