ISWAP Ambush Kills Brigadier General Mohammed Uba in Borno State (PHOTO)

The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) ambushed a Nigerian military convoy on the Damboa-Biu road near Wajiroko village in Borno State over the November 15-17, 2025 weekend, killing two soldiers and two Civilian Joint Task Force members while capturing and executing Brigadier General Mohammed Uba, the 25 Task Force Brigade commander—the first serving brigade commander killed in direct combat. 

The Nigerian Army initially denied reports of his abduction, claiming he had safely returned, but later confirmed his death amid evidence of his captivity, including a video and photos showing a leg wound. The incident has highlighted vulnerabilities in military intelligence and communication, with social media users questioning possible internal leaks that enabled ISWAP to track and recapture Uba after he briefly escaped into the forest.

The story is one of stunned silence, operational missteps, unanswered questions, and lingering echoes of betrayal. This narrative recounts, in detail, the fatal ambush on the Damboa-Biu road near Wajiroko village and the ripple effects of the tragic loss—not only of a senior officer but of confidence in the opaque layers of intelligence and protection once believed impregnable.

A Mission Turned Trap: The Ambush

The incident occurred late on a Friday, November 15, as a convoy of Nigerian Army personnel traveled along the Damboa-Biu road—a stretch notorious for sudden ambushes and insurgent presence. The convoy was part of a routine military movement, escorted and comprising soldiers from the 25 Task Force Brigade and supported by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).

Although the Nigerian military had increased surveillance in that corridor, ISWAP proved yet again that they possessed both the terrain knowledge and tactical cunning to execute surprise assaults. Eyewitnesses and security sources suggest that the convoy came under fire in what appeared to be a carefully planned ambush, likely informed by insider knowledge or intercepted communications. The attackers, estimated to be a unit of 40 to 60 insurgents, wielded heavy weapons—rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that sealed exits and restricted movement.

The chaos was brutal and swift. Two soldiers and two CJTF members were killed in the initial bursts of fire. A vehicle bearing senior officers was targeted specifically, which suggests the insurgents were aware of the presence of Brigadier General Mohammed Uba—an indication of either internal leaks or technical surveillance on the part of the extremists.

The General’s Capture: A Break in the Chain

As the fighting intensified, reports indicate that Brigadier General Uba exited his vehicle to reorganize his men and attempt to repel the attack. It was in this moment of leadership and desperation that he was separated from the main team. Injured, with a leg wound visible in later footage, the General reportedly made his way into nearby thickets, trying to avoid further enemy fire.

What happened next remains in the realm of speculation and conflicting accounts. Some sources assert that he was initially able to evade capture and contact the base for extraction support. Yet, moments later, ISWAP militants reportedly located him—again a chilling indication that they might have had a real-time feed of his movements. Whether through digital geolocation, insider informants, or simple proximity sensing in the area, they found him, dragged him from the brush, and took him captive.

During this time, the Nigerian Army reportedly lost track of his position. Initial statements from military authorities—issued shortly after the ambush news broke—claimed that Brigadier General Uba was “safe and accounted for.” This false reassurance piqued public skepticism, especially as photos and videos soon began circulating online, showing the General injured and in custody, flanked by militants, his leg bandaged by what appeared to be rudimentary field dressing.

The Propaganda Machine and Psychological Warfare

ISWAP, like many extremist organizations, operates not just through insurgency and terrorism on the ground but also psychologically—leveraging digital platforms and media artifacts as instruments of fear and control. The release of the Brigadier General’s captivity video was a calculated move. It served as a propaganda tool, boosting their image as a formidable force capable of targeting high-value military leadership.

In the footage, the General’s face—wearied but resolute—was emblematic of a military vulnerability and a symbolic strike on Nigeria’s security architecture. The video was widely shared across channels known for extremist content dissemination. It not only contradicted the Nigerian Army’s earlier statement but also forced them into an uncomfortable corner of retraction and damage control.

The emotional and symbolic impact of the General’s capture cannot be overstated. Military rank and honor face a unique kind of desecration when senior officers fall into the hands of insurgents. It sends a chilling message to soldiers on the ground, locals under occupation, and even international observers evaluating Nigeria’s counter-insurgency capabilities.

Execution and Denial: The Army’s Silence and the Nation’s Outcry

On Sunday, November 17, 2025, confirmation began to solidify that Brigadier General Mohammed Uba had been executed. ISWAP operatives streamed the footage of his killing via encrypted channels, harnessing the dark web and animation-style effects previously unseen in their media operations. Intelligence agencies confirmed that the video was legitimate.

Yet, it took almost 48 hours for the Nigerian Army to formally acknowledge his death. The delay and earlier contradictory communications from the military high command provoked a torrent of criticism—from civil society, military families, and retired generals who viewed both the operational lapse and the botched media response as symptomatic of deeper systemic issues. Public reactions were marked by grief, rage, and disillusionment.

General Uba was no ordinary officer. Highly respected and battle-hardened, he had served across several critical counter-terrorism operations in the Northeast. His death, therefore, was both a personal loss to his brigade and a devastating blow to the morale of the broader military establishment.

The Anguish of Leaks: A Military Lost to Shadows?

Perhaps the most troubling element of the entire incident is the nagging possibility of internal compromise. Many have pointed to the precision with which ISWAP executed the ambush and captured the General as evidence of high-level leaks. How did the insurgents know the convoy route? How did they track his position after his temporary escape? These questions unleashed a flurry of speculation across social media, with military insiders and civilians alike pointing to potential informants within the ranks.

In response, a confidential military inquiry was reportedly commissioned. The investigation is expected to probe operational protocols, communication channels, encrypted device management, and even the operational security of combined CJTF and military movements. If insiders were, in fact, involved—whether coerced, radicalized, or financially motivated—it could represent a serious breach at the heart of Nigeria’s counterinsurgency infrastructure.

The threat of espionage and infiltration is hardly new. For years, analysts have warned that extremist organizations have become savvy, not only militarily but also in their strategic infiltration of Nigerian institutions. Yet, the killing of a Brigadier General on Nigerian soil by terrorists who seemingly “knew too much” has catapulted those anxieties into stark, undeniable reality.