The Brigade Commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade, Brigadier General M. Uba, has returned safely to base after reports of his alleged abduction by Boko Haram insurgents in Damboa Local Government Area, Borno State.

According to the Nigerian Army, the incident occurred on Friday during a routine patrol around Wajiroko along the fringes of the Sambisa Forest. The patrol team, comprising soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), came under sudden and heavy insurgent fire.

The troops fought through the ambush with superior firepower, forcing the insurgents to flee in disarray. During the encounter, two soldiers and two CJTF members were killed, with the Army commending their bravery and expressing condolences to their families.

The Army High Command, through Lt. Col. Appolonia Anele, acting Director of Army Public Relations, dismissed online reports of the general’s abduction as “fake news” and urged the public to disregard them.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, praised the courage, resilience, and sacrifice of the troops, noting that their commitment in one of Nigeria’s most dangerous theatres of operation highlights the daily risks faced by service members to keep the nation safe.