Former Minister of Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung, has raised serious questions over the circumstances surrounding the death of Brigadier General Musa Uba in Damboa, Borno State, insisting that the incident “is not an ordinary battlefield tragedy but a national scandal.”
In a strongly worded Sunday commentary titled Who Sent General Musa Uba to His Death?, Dalung argued that the killing of a senior officer in such a manner points to deep systemic failure and possible internal compromise within the military.
He noted that in every professional military system, Generals are never deployed to frontline operations without multi-layered security, intelligence, surveillance, and coordinated movement support.
Dalung stressed that “when an officer of this stature ends up captured and killed, the issue is not merely what ISWAP did, but what the system failed to do,” adding that the collapse of multiple security layers suggests “something far more sinister than operational bad luck.”
He further suggested that entrenched corruption in the North-East could have played a role, arguing that senior officers who challenge fuel diversion, ammunition theft, ghost-soldier payrolls, and other illicit networks often create enemies within the system.
Dalung questioned why Gen. Uba moved through a highly volatile area without sufficient armoured protection, air cover, or surveillance support, saying the situation reflects deliberate exposure rather than coincidence.
He also raised concerns about the clearance of the General’s movement, insisting that someone approved his trip, managed his intelligence briefing, and knew the exact route and timing.
According to him, insurgents do not ambush Generals by chance but through leaked routes, delayed backup, false intel, or deliberate withdrawal of support.
Dalung stated that Nigeria must confront the reality of “a dual war, one against terrorists, and another against insiders who feed, fund, and enable them.”
He insisted that Gen. Uba’s death must not be buried under institutional silence, calling for a transparent and independent investigation to uncover possible sabotage or betrayal.
Dalung concluded by expressing hope that the officer’s death will trigger accountability, reforms, and an honest audit of the military’s internal vulnerabilities.
“While enemies in the forest are dangerous, the enemies within the fortress are far more deadly, because they alone possess the keys to open the gate,” he wrote.
