The Nigerian army has rejected reports claiming that M. Uba, a brigadier general, was abducted during an insurgent ambush on troops in Borno state.
On Friday, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters laid an ambush for troops and CJTF operatives transporting military equipment along Damboa road near Wajiroko in Borno.
Sources told TheCable that during the attack, two CJTF members and two soldiers were killed, while at least 17 military motorcycles were seized by the insurgents.
Although Uba was initially believed to be missing, he was later confirmed to have made it back to the military base.
In a statement issued on Saturday, army spokesperson Onyechi Anele said the brigadier general confronted the “insurgents ambush with superior fire power, forcing them to withdraw in disarray and to abandon their mission”.
Anele added that Uba subsequently led his troops back to base.
He noted that “two brave soldiers and two heroic CJTF members paid the supreme price while on active service to the nation,” and extended condolences to their families.
The army also dismissed as false the reports circulating online that the brigade commander had been abducted, urging the public to disregard such claims and continue to support the armed forces.