In the chaotic hours following the ISWAP ambush along the Burum–Kubua axis of the Damboa–Biu road, confusion spread rapidly both on the ground and across social media. Shortly after the encounter, the Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. M. Uba, who had tactically maneuvered out of the kill zone with his men, temporarily took cover inside the forest.
From that concealed position, he established communication with the Theatre Commander, confirming his safety and proof of life in a video Watssap call. He also sent his Live location through his Wattssap which prompted ground and Air rescue mission by Air and surface troops of Operation HADIN KAI.. 
However, before official channels could release accurate information, social media platforms were flooded with sensational claims. Several blogs and influencers falsely reported that ISWAP had abducted a Brigade Commander a narrative that instantly went viral due to its shock value.
What followed was an information wildfire. The more the story spread, the more the terrorists, who initially had no situational awareness about the Commander’s movement, were alerted. Media amplification effectively turned him into the most sought-after “golden fish” in the Sambisa axis, prompting ISWAP cells linked to Ba Shuwa and Abu Qudama to intensify their scramble for a target they never actually had.
This misreporting created an unnecessary operational burden, as troops had to factor in the media-induced pressure while conducting recovery and reorganisation. It also heightened public anxiety and momentarily disrupted the flow of accurate battlefield communication.
At the time of the report, Zagazola dismissed the viral claims as entirely false. Verified accounts confirmed that a video released by the Commander himself confirmed he was alive, unharmed, and fully in control.
Unfortunately, Gen. Uba’s mobile phone became unreachable and he was not found at the Live location he initially provided. The Theartre Commander himself led troops to Azir and remained there for almost 24 hourz searching for the Commander without any trace.
In the end, the Brigade Commander was recaptured while attempting to maneuver his way out of the terrorists infested forest.
This incident illustrated a recurring challenge in conflict reporting: how information can endanger personnel and inadvertently assist hostile groups by providing them with operational clues.
