MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (FN) — The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has executed Brigadier General M. Uba after an ambush in Borno State on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, in an attack that also killed several soldiers and sent shockwaves across Nigeria. The killing of such a senior officer has raised fears about the safety of civilians in the northeast, where insurgents continue to strike with impunity.
The Nigerian Army initially dismissed reports of the general’s capture as “fake narratives,” insisting he was safe. But ISWAP later released photographs and a statement on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, confirming he was taken alive, interrogated and executed.
The ambush occurred along the Damboa–Biu axis, a volatile stretch of road in northeastern Nigeria where insurgents have staged repeated attacks on military convoys and civilian travelers. Witnesses reported seeing multiple bodies after the firefight, underscoring the scale of the losses.
“This is a devastating blow,” said security analyst Kabiru Adamu. “The execution of a brigadier general shows ISWAP’s confidence and highlights serious gaps in military communication and intelligence.”
The killing marks the first time ISWAP has executed a Nigerian officer of such senior rank, underscoring the group’s growing boldness and its intent to weaken morale within the armed forces. The deaths of other soldiers in the convoy added to the tragedy.
ISWAP, a faction that split from Boko Haram in 2016, has expanded its influence across Borno and neighboring states, targeting both military personnel and civilians in a campaign of violence aimed at destabilizing the region.
“This incident has shaken public trust,” said Maiduguri resident Hauwa Ibrahim. “If a soldier of that caliber can be captured and killed like an animal, what is the fate of ordinary civilians who have no protection?”
Military officials have not provided further details about the ambush or the circumstances that led to the general’s capture, but they pledged to continue operations against insurgents in the northeast. “We will not relent in our mission to defeat terrorism,” said Army spokesman Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu.
Human rights advocates urged reforms in military communication systems and stronger protection for communities caught in the conflict. “The army must learn from this tragedy,” said Amnesty International Nigeria director Isa Sanusi. “Transparency and accountability are essential if confidence is to be restored.”
Nigeria’s decade‑long battle against Boko Haram and ISWAP has displaced more than 2 million people and killed tens of thousands. Humanitarian groups say insecurity has made it difficult to deliver food and medicine to camps, while civilians face daily fear of attacks on villages, markets and highways. For many, the killing of a senior officer has become a chilling reminder of their own vulnerability, reinforcing concerns that if the military itself is not safe, ordinary people remain dangerously exposed.
