…Gen Musa Visits, Condoles With Family of Slain Brig-Gen Uba
By Yinka Giwa
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), OFR, has vowed that Nigeria will continue to honour the legacy of troops who fall in battle, as he paid a solemn condolence visit to the family of the late Brigadier General M. Uba, a frontline commander killed who was isolated, tracked, and murdered by Islamic State, West Africa Province, ISWAP last month.
During the visit on Thursday, Gen. Musa delivered a heartfelt tribute to the fallen officer, describing Brig-Gen Uba as a consummate professional whose courage, discipline, and unwavering commitment to national service embodied the highest ideals of the Nigerian Armed Forces. He noted that the late general’s sacrifice was not only heroic but also a reminder of the heavy price paid daily by Nigeria’s military personnel in defence of the nation.
“We will honour the legacy of our troops who fall in battle,” the Defence Minister assured. “Brigadier General Uba stood firm in the face of danger, and his service will forever remain a beacon of courage for the Nigerian military.”
Gen. Musa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to intensify the fight against terrorism and other security threats undermining Nigeria’s stability. He stressed that the nation remains indebted to officers and soldiers who pay the ultimate price, adding that their sacrifices will strengthen ongoing reforms aimed at improving the welfare, equipment, and operational effectiveness of the armed forces.
The Minister extended his condolences to the bereaved family, urging them to take pride in the legacy of the late Brig-Gen Uba, whose life, he said, exemplified duty, patriotism, and honour.
Last month, militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) claimed they had captured and executed Brig-Gen Uba during a patrol near Wajiroko in Borno State, a claim the Nigerian Army initially rejected. In a statement circulated on November 17, the IS-linked Al Amaq news agency alleged that the senior officer was seized and killed in custody. The Army promptly issued a rebuttal, describing reports of his abduction as “fake narratives” circulating online, while insisting that no brigade commander had been captured.
ISWAP dismissed the Army’s denial as “an outright lie,” further intensifying public concern over the group’s growing audacity in the region. The faction, one of the two major offshoots of Boko Haram, has regained momentum in recent years and become notorious for launching coordinated assaults on military formations.
In May, the group reportedly mounted a string of attacks across Gajibo, Buni Gari, Marte, Izge, and Rann, and also targeted the Nigeria–Cameroon joint base in Wulgo and Soueram. Other attacks this year have hit Malam Fatori, Goniri, Sabon Gari, Wajiroko, Monguno, and several other locations, often carried out at night to exploit reduced visibility and slower response times.
The second Boko Haram faction, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), has increasingly turned its violence toward civilians, relying on robberies, forced taxation, and abductions for ransom as its operational footprint shrinks.
Wassim Nasr, a Sahel specialist and senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, told the Associated Press that the reported killing of Brig. Gen. Uba underscored the continuing intensity of the conflict. “The killing of the general is another reminder that the war is still raging with ISWAP, and the Nigerian military is still pouring valuable assets into the battle,” he said.
Despite years of counterinsurgency operations, Nigeria continues to grapple with Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other armed groups, while confronting the additional challenge of avoiding civilian harm during airstrikes and special military operations against militant hideouts.