The convoy of the 25 Task Force Brigade was intercepted by ISWAP fighters near Wajirko (along the Damboa-Biu Road). The General was captured alive after a fierce firefight that claimed the lives of several soldiers and CJTF members. He was reportedly interrogated before his execution was announced via the ISWAP-affiliated Amaq news agency.
18 Nov 2025 · Wajirko, Damboa, Borno
Deaths
1
Injured
0
Kidnapped
0
Total casualties
1
Perpetrators
ISWAP
Response
Military sources confirmed the ambush and execution; incident underscores ISWAP’s continued capacity to target high-ranking officers.
Displacement
0
Socioeconomic drivers
Targeting a Brigade Commander directly undermines the "hearts and minds" campaign and creates a vacuum in the local command structure of the Operation Hadin Kai.
Trajectory
This was the highest-ranking officer lost since the death of Brigadier General Dzarma Zirkusu in 2021. The transition from "battlefield death" (Zirkusu) to "capture and execution" (Uba) indicates an increase in ISWAP’s tactical confidence and their desire for global media attention.
Cycle notes
It echoes the 2013 Baga-Maiduguri road ambushes in scale, but the 2025 event demonstrates a much more sophisticated use of digital media to verify the "spoils of war."
Pattern
Information Warfare — This incident was a masterclass in propaganda for ISWAP. By allowing the General to use his phone to contact friends before switching it off, the insurgents drew the military into a rescue attempt that they were already prepared for, while simultaneously proving the falsity of the Army’s "returned to base" statement.
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