By Reportcircle Abuja
What began as a routine confidence-building patrol around Wajiroko in Azir-Multe, Damboa Local Government Area, morphed into a blistering gun duel as insurgents staged a sudden, heavy ambush against troops of the 25 Task Force Brigade on Tuesday.
The patrol team, moving back from the fringes of the Sambisa Forest after what military officials described as a “successful operation,” walked straight into a surge of enemy fire an attack clearly designed to overwhelm and annihilate the unit.
According to Lieutenant Colonel
APPOLONIA ANELE, Acting Director, Army Public Relations in a press statement made available to newsmen in Abuja informed that in a rare frontline appearance, the 25 Brigade Commander, Brigadier General M. Uba, personally led the patrol element made up of soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
Rather than buckle, the team punched through the ambush with coordinated counter-assault manoeuvres and superior firepower that forced the insurgents into a chaotic retreat, abandoning what intelligence sources suspect was a planned capture-or-kill mission.
The military confirmed that two soldiers and two CJTF operatives fell in the heat of the fighting men described as “brave,” “heroic,” and “symbols of the daily cost of Nigeria’s security.”
The Army High Command extended condolences to their families, promising that their sacrifice “will not be forgotten nor taken for granted.”
Shortly after news of the ambush surfaced, several online platforms began circulating a narrative alleging that Brigadier General Uba had been abducted.
The Army dismissed the claim as “fake, baseless and irresponsible.”
Officials emphasised that the Brigade Commander not only survived the attack but led his men back to base, ensuring organised extraction under pressure.
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu (NAM), hailed the troops for demonstrating “uncommon bravery and resilience in one of the world’s most dangerous theatres of conflict.”
He described their commitment despite grave danger as a reminder of “the daily sacrifices being made by our gallant men and women to keep Nigeria safe.”
The Army urged Nigerians to shun unverified reports and continue supporting frontline troops through prayers and vigilance, reiterating confidence in the ongoing operations across the Northeast.
