Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South) has called on the government and security agencies to urgently recover Brigadier General Musa Uba, Commander of the 25 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, following reports of his abduction during an encounter with Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

 

In a press statement made available to journalists on Thursday, Ndume also urged authorities to intensify efforts to safely rescue 25 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Girls Comprehensive School in Maga, Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State last Sunday.

 

General Uba was reportedly captured during a military operation against terrorists around Wajiroko in Azir Multe, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State. While military authorities in Abuja have denied the abduction, insisting that the Brigadier successfully returned to base, unverified videos circulating on social media allegedly released by terrorists claim otherwise.

 

Ndume, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, emphasized that the worsening security situation across parts of North West and North East Nigeria, marked by banditry, kidnappings, and terrorism, requires urgent, comprehensive attention.

 

He said: “I am compelled to issue this statement concerning the abduction and whereabouts of Brigadier General Musa Uba and the 25 females of the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, by terrorists. Let the government and our security agencies act quickly to bring back the Brigade Commander dead or alive. I also call on authorities to intensify efforts to safely rescue all the abducted schoolgirls. Bringing them back would help minimize the trauma faced by their families, friends, and Nigerians in general.”

 

While commending the sacrifices of the military and other security personnel in the fight against Boko Haram and other criminal elements, Ndume prayed for divine guidance to support the Federal and State Governments’ efforts to curb terrorism, kidnappings, and banditry across the country.