The Brigade Commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade, M. Uba, earlier declared safe by the Nigerian Army after an ambush in Borno State, has been confirmed dead.
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) announced in a statement that it had captured and executed the senior officer.
The terror group revealed the development in an Arabic communiqué published through its propaganda outlet, Amaq, where it also released photographs showing the commander in his office and after his capture.
PRNigeria, an agency with ties to security institutions, corroborated the report, stating that the general was abducted and killed shortly after the army believed he had survived Friday night’s ambush along the Damboa–Biu axis.
PREMIUM TIMES had reported his disappearance on Sunday, citing a HumAngle account, even as the Army maintained that he was safe.
In an earlier statement, Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Appolonia Anele confirmed that troops under Mr Uba’s leadership had come under “sudden and heavy insurgent fire” during a patrol around the Sambisa Forest.
The army dismissed reports of his abduction as “fake narratives,” acknowledging only the deaths of four personnel, two soldiers and two CJTF operatives, in the attack.
In its statement, ISWAP claimed that the commander fled the Wajiroko ambush but was later located by fighters who tracked him down near a village on Saturday.
The group said he had been wounded, captured, interrogated and then executed.
The released images show blood on the officer’s camouflage uniform, particularly around his legs, suggesting injuries sustained before his capture.
ISWAP further mocked the military’s earlier statement, describing it as a “lie” and a reflection of “miserable security failure.”
According to PRNigeria, Mr Uba had earlier made contact with his superiors after an aerial operation enabled him to escape the initial attack.
However, information about his whereabouts reportedly allowed the terrorists to pursue and apprehend him, leading to his killing shortly after.
Security analysts say the incident marks the first time ISWAP has killed an officer of such high rank, raising concerns about operational communications and intelligence leaks in the north-east theatre.
The Nigerian Army has not yet issued a statement addressing the commander’s confirmed death.
Calls and messages to the spokesperson were unanswered at the time of filing this report.
