New details have emerged following Friday’s terrorist ambush on troops along the Biu–Wajiroko axis, which earlier left two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) dead and several soldiers unaccounted for.
The Nigerian Army has confirmed that the Commander of 25 Task Force Brigade, Brigadier General M. Uba, personally led his troops back to base after they came under heavy fire during a routine patrol around Wajiroko in Damboa Local Government Area.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, said the troops were returning from a successful patrol around the fringes of Sambisa Forest when insurgents launched a sudden attack.
She said the team, which included soldiers and CJTF members, fought through the ambush with “superior firepower” and forced the terrorists to retreat in disarray.
The Army confirmed that two soldiers and two CJTF members were killed during the encounter.
It said the military high command has commiserated with families of the fallen personnel and praised their sacrifice.
The statement also dismissed reports circulating online that the Brigade Commander was abducted, describing the claim as false.
The Army urged the public to ignore the rumor and rely on verified sources for updates.
It added that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, praised the “bravery, resilience, and sacrifice” of the troops operating in what it described as one of the country’s most dangerous theaters.
