Nov. 18, 2025
By Adebamiwa Gbenga Daniel
Let me help you understand who a Brigadier General is then maybe you will grasp the sheer audacity of these terrorists, and the magnitude of the security threat confronting every Nigerian.
A Brigadier General in the Nigerian Army is not just another officer, he is a one‑star general who has climbed through years of rigorous training, battlefield experience, leadership roles, assessments, and elite promotions. He commands a brigade about 4,000 highly trained soldiers overseeing tactical planning, operational execution, intelligence, combat readiness, and the overall welfare and discipline of his troops.
This is the man who coordinates complex maneuvers, counter‑attacks, reconnaissance missions, and field operations. He is the strategic brain of a brigade, the one whose command and authority carry weight, whose directive “get him” actually means you will be gotten.
He supervises training, initiates missions, ensures readiness, manages logistics, and shapes the fighting spirit of thousands under him. This is the calibre of leadership, responsibility, and institutional importance embedded in the rank of a Brigadier General.
And this is the man ISWAP chose to abduct, taunt, and eventually murder. This is not just the killing of one senior officer. It is a direct challenge to Nigeria and every Nigerian. It is a warning to the Armed Forces and every security institution. It is not merely an act of terror, it is a declaration of war.
The Nigerian government, Army, Air Force, Navy, Police, NSCDC, Hunters, Vigilante, Amotekun, FRSC, Fire Service, VIO, Traffic Wardens, NYSC, if you wear a uniform, this message concerns you. It demands a hard, decisive, coordinated response. We must hit them where it hurts.
And let no illiterate mallam deceive you into sympathizing with terrorists. If you dare defend them, may we hand you over to ISWAP so your “ideology” can save you. If they don’t use you to record another propaganda video, call me Tumbudi.
These terrorists understood the impact of killing a Brigade Commander. This was calculated, not random. They wanted Nigeria to see. They wanted the world to see. They executed this to send a message and indeed, they succeeded.
And if you think ISWAP acted alone, you are naive. The ambush, tracking, and re‑capture indicate intelligence leaks. A mole. Terrorists are not always shabby, uneducated or ragged. They sit in offices, walk among us, and operate with strategic intent.
The Nigerian government must respond decisively, avenge the general, and avenge every innocent soul slaughtered across the country. May the general’s soul rest in peace, may God comfort his family, and may this tragedy awaken the authorities to do what must be done.
To every soldier standing guard at midnight, to every officer manning a checkpoint at dawn, to every uniformed man and woman who leaves family and comfort to defend a country they are willing to die for, may God return you safely and victoriously to your loved ones. May your sacrifices be crowned with success.
