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President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba, who died while serving on the front lines against insurgents in Borno State.
According to reports, Uba was killed by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters after they ambushed a convoy of soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the troubled northeastern state.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, Tinubu expressed profound sorrow over the death of the general and other personnel, extending his condolences to their families and the entire military community.
The president also reacted to the abduction of 25 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS) Maga in Danko/Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State on Monday.
He noted that the kidnapping took place despite earlier intelligence alerts that bandits were planning an attack. Tinubu went on to commend Kebbi State Governor, Mohammed Idris for efforts made to avert the tragedy.
The president has also directed Vice-President Kashim Shettima to travel to Kebbi to console the state government and reassure the parents and guardians of the abducted students that the federal government is fully committed to ensuring their prompt and safe rescue.
Condemning the security lapse that enabled the attack, Tinubu urged communities—particularly those in vulnerable areas—to promptly share information and intelligence with the military, police, and the Department of State Services (DSS), stressing that security agencies cannot operate effectively without grassroots cooperation.
“As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of our soldiers and officers on active duty. May God comfort the families of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other fallen heroes,” Tinubu said.
“It is heartbreaking that terrorists have disrupted the education of innocent schoolgirls. I have directed security agencies to act swiftly to bring the girls back to Kebbi State.”
He appealed to community leaders and residents, especially those in conflict-prone regions, to support security operations by providing credible and timely information.
“Your cooperation is crucial in our fight against these security challenges,” he said.
ISWAP, which split from Boko Haram in 2016, has consistently targeted the Nigerian military as part of its insurgent campaign.
Since 2009, the conflict has claimed more than 40,000 lives and forced nearly two million people from their homes across northeastern Nigeria, with violence spilling into Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
Uba becomes the second high-ranking officer killed in an ambush in four years, following the death of General Dzarma Zirkusu in November 2021.
