Atiku, Shehu Sani demand clarity as ISWAP claims killing of Brigadier-General Musa Uba amid army denial

Atiku, Shehu Sani demand clarity as ISWAP claims killing of Brigadier-General Musa Uba amid army denial

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna Central senator Shehu Sani have called for urgent clarification following conflicting reports surrounding the alleged killing of Brigadier-General Musa Uba by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.

On Monday, ISWAP claimed it captured and executed the senior military officer after ambushing a convoy near Wajiroko village. The brigade commander was said to be returning from a late-night patrol when the convoy came under heavy attack.

The Nigerian Army quickly dismissed reports of his abduction as “fake news”, insisting that Brig.-Gen. Uba was safe and that troops had successfully repelled the assault. However, the terror group later released a statement via its Amaq propaganda channel, including a photo collage purportedly showing the commander in his office and after his alleged capture. The claim remains unverified by both the Army and the Presidency.

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ISWAP accused the military of “an outright lie and a miserable security failure,” alleging that the commander was caught while trying to flee and later found wounded in a nearby village.

Reacting on X, Atiku Abubakar said he was “deeply saddened, shocked and disturbed” by the conflicting accounts, criticising what he described as the military’s poor communication strategy. He argued that the incident exposed “a failure of political leadership,” accusing President Bola Tinubu of prioritising political suppression over 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 wrote. He described the ambush as “a bold terrorist resurgence,” adding that if he were president, he would order the military to “occupy” Borno or any other state under siege until insurgent threats are eliminated.

Former senator Shehu Sani urged Nigerians not to allow terrorist propaganda to undermine national morale. Describing Uba as “a brave and gallant soldier,” he called for an investigation into possible operational lapses that led to the fatal ambush.

“The killing of Brigadier-General Uba is a tragic national loss,” he said. “We must celebrate his courage and patriotism—never the cruelty of terrorists. Fifteen years on, terrorism has never won and will never win.”

Atiku, Shehu Sani demand clarity as ISWAP claims killing of Brigadier-General Musa Uba amid army denial