Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, have demanded urgent clarification following conflicting reports on the alleged killing of Brigadier-General Musa Uba by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Borno State.
ISWAP claimed on Monday that it captured and executed the senior officer after an ambush on a military convoy near Wajiroko village. The brigade commander was reportedly returning from a late-night patrol when the convoy came under intense fire.
The Nigerian Army swiftly dismissed reports of his abduction, describing them as “fake news” and insisting the officer was safe after troops repelled the attack. But the terror group later released a statement through its Amaq channel, along with a photo collage it claimed showed Uba in his office and after his “capture”. The claim remains unverified by both the army and the presidency.
In its statement, ISWAP mocked the military’s response as “an outright lie and a miserable security failure”, alleging the commander was caught while fleeing the ambush and later found wounded near a village.
Reacting on X, Atiku said he was “deeply saddened, shocked and disturbed” by the conflicting information, criticising what he described as poor communication by the military authorities. He said the incident reflected “a failure of political leadership”, accusing President Bola Tinubu of focusing more on suppressing political opposition than ensuring national security.
“At this point, the President must either live up to his duty to secure Nigerians or admit incompetence and seek help—or resign,” Atiku said. He described the ambush as “a bold terrorist resurgence” and argued that, if he were president, he would order the military to “occupy” Borno or any state under siege until insurgent threats are cleared.
Ex-Senator Sani, in his reaction, warned Nigerians not to allow terrorist propaganda to weaken national morale. He described Uba as “a brave and gallant soldier” whose sacrifice must not be forgotten. He urged the military to investigate any lapses that led to the deadly ambush.
“The killing of Brigadier-General Uba is a tragic national loss,” Sani said. “We must celebrate his courage and patriotism, never the cruelty of terrorists. Fifteen years on, terrorism has never won and will never win.”
