Some of the last moments and final communication from army commander, Brigadier-General M Uba have emerged, shedding light on the composure and courage of the senior officer before he was captured and killed by the ISWAP terrorists.
In a WhatsApp chat, Brig.-Gen. Uba appeared to remain calm and determined even as troops from Operation Hadin Kai raced to reach him.
Shortly after a video call in which he confirmed he was alive, he sent messages that captured both his resolve and the urgency of the situation.
In one message, he asked his coordinating team: “Are they going to pick me or direct me on where to go?”
He was reassured: “Sir, they will remain overhead and coordinate with the troops moving towards you, Sir.”
As time passed, the General provided another update: “My battery is 31% now.”
His final words, a mix of hope and resilience, came as he tried to make himself visible to the air component: “Sir, I am on foot, but once I see the aircraft, I can raise my peak cap.”
These were the last messages received from Brig.-Gen. Uba before contact was lost.
Earlier, it was reported that General Uba was killed by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters after the terrorists reportedly intercepted and tracked his location along the Damboa–Biu axis in Borno State, multiple security sources have confirmed.
The tragic incident occurred shortly after the Brigade Commander had participated in a successful joint air–ground offensive against insurgents in the area.
The General had earlier spoken with his superiors, confirming that he was safe following the operation and was regrouping with his team.
However, the officer’s communication may have inadvertently exposed his coordinates.
He was captured alive while the terrorists interrogated him briefly before summarily executing him.
Earlier reports detailed a joint military operation in which the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft swiftly intervened to rescue ground troops who had come under heavy ambush by ISWAP terrorists.
The operation began when ground forces, led by the Brigadier General, advanced into the area, unaware that the route had been booby-trapped.
Following an intense exchange of gunfire, the sudden surge in terrorist numbers forced the commander to order a tactical withdrawal and issue a distress call for air support.
Responding, NAF aircraft diverted from ongoing missions to provide close air support, delivering decisive strikes that helped disperse the terrorists and rescue the military commander, his troops, and accompanying members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
The media on Saturday reported that top military brass including the Operation Hadin Kai, Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, stormed the military base in Damboa, Borno State, to lead rescue operations for some abducted army personnel.
It was learnt that the abduction of the officers followed a violent ambush by fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) that left two soldiers and two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) dead.
The attack, which occurred on Friday night also led to the reported abduction of Brigadier General M Uba, along with two other soldiers.
Although the Nigerian Army in a release earlier denied the abduction of the 25 Brigade Commander, soldiers who spoke with the media confirmed that the commander was not yet back to the base.
Multiple military sources told SaharaReporters that the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Major General Abubakar, and the Sector 2 Commander arrived in Damboa shortly after the attack to coordinate rescue efforts and enhance troop morale.
“The Brigadier General who was abducted managed to send his live location to colleagues,” a senior military source revealed.
“They traced it and found the spot, but there was no trace of him. It’s unclear if his phone died or was seized by the terrorists.”
Another source added that the abducted officer appeared to have access to his phone under duress.
“Even yesterday morning, he made a video call to his dry cleaner but warned him not to talk,” the source said.
Despite deploying troops to the location shared by the officer, they returned without success. One soldier who was shot and abducted along with him was reportedly freed, but the senior officer and two others remained missing.
The sources noted that in response to the crisis, one Brigadier General Mustapha has been appointed to lead the 26 Task Force Brigade in Damboa, while troops previously engaged in the rescue operation were withdrawn early Sunday.
According to top military officers, “Information reaching us revealed that the Brigadier-General was abducted alongside three other soldiers. However, one of the soldiers was shot and left behind in the bush.
“Those who returned to the camp on foot yesterday were two Majors. A commander has been temporarily appointed to oversee the affairs of the Brigade pending confirmation from Army Headquarters.
“Another Brigade Commander, Brigadier-General Mustapha, has also been appointed. Nigerian Army top commanders have stormed the Damboa base in Borno State to rescue the Brigadier-General and two soldiers still in Boko Haram captivity.”
It was previously reported that ISWAP fighters ambushed a Nigerian military convoy late Friday night, killing multiple soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), in northeastern Nigeria.
The attackers, armed and highly organised, targeted the convoy in what appears to be a coordinated strike, leaving a trail of casualties and panic in the region.
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