How False Reports Turned Brigade Commander Into ‘Golden Fish’ Before His Death in Sambisa
Confusion trailed last weekend’s ambush by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province on a military convoy along the Burum–Kubua stretch of the Damboa–Biu road, as conflicting reports flooded the public space over the fate of Brigadier-General M. Uba, Commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade.
Early accounts by counterinsurgency analyst, Zagazola Makama, indicated that the senior officer had manoeuvred out of the kill zone and taken temporary cover inside the Sambisa forest.
From his hideout, the Commander contacted the Theatre Commander through a WhatsApp video call to confirm he was alive and also shared his live location.
His communication triggered a coordinated rescue effort by air and ground components of Operation Hadin Kai.
However, before any official update was issued, social media went awash with claims that ISWAP had captured him.
The misinformation spread rapidly, with several blogs and influencers amplifying the unverified claim. Analysts said the viral reports gave insurgents situational awareness they did not initially possess, effectively turning the officer into what Makama described as a “golden fish” in the Sambisa axis.
ISWAP cells linked to Ba Shuwa and Abu Qudama were said to have intensified their search based on the media frenzy.
The Nigerian Army, in a statement earlier cited by Reuters, dismissed the abduction claims as fake news and urged the public to disregard unverified posts.
But the pressure created by the false reports complicated rescue operations, heightened public anxiety and disrupted the flow of accurate battlefield information.
Although a video from the Commander earlier confirmed he was unharmed, concerns mounted when his phone later became unreachable.
Troops, led personally by the Theatre Commander, reportedly combed the Azir area for almost 24 hours after he could not be found at the location he had shared.
Reuters reported that four soldiers died in Friday’s ambush, which occurred near Wajiroko village in Borno State.
The news agency also noted that ISWAP, through its Amaq channel, later claimed responsibility for the attack and alleged it had executed the Brigade Commander. The claim could not be independently verified at the time.
Makama later reported that the officer was eventually recaptured by the insurgents while attempting to navigate out of the forest.
His death marked a grim end to the incident, which had already been marred by misinformation and heightened tension.
The development has again raised concerns over the dangers of unverified reporting in conflict zones, with security watchers warning that false narratives can expose personnel, distort operations and hand tactical advantage to hostile groups.
The military community has continued to mourn the loss, even as calls for tighter information management around battlefield operations grow louder across the security sector. May his soul rest in peace.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
