A Nigerian army general and his wife have been taken hostage by an unidentified armed group, prompting the United Kingdom to offer specialist hostage negotiation support, diplomatic sources confirmed on Tuesday.
Brigadier General Ibrahim Sani and his spouse were seized late Monday evening from their official residence in Maiduguri, Borno State, a region long plagued by insurgent activity. The attackers overpowered security personnel before fleeing with the couple into the surrounding bushland. No group has yet claimed responsibility.
The High Commission in Abuja immediately offered British expertise in hostage recovery and crisis management, a standard protocol for nations with whom the UK holds bilateral security agreements. Nigerian defence headquarters acknowledged the offer but stated that local forces are leading the operation.
This abduction marks a significant escalation in the targeting of high-ranking military officials in the region. Maiduguri serves as the epicentre of the government’s counterinsurgency campaign against Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province. The general was believed to have been involved in operational planning against these groups.
Security analysts note that the abduction of a senior officer and his wife signals either a sophisticated intelligence operation by insurgents or the involvement of criminal networks seeking a high ransom. The UK’s involvement, while supportive, also reflects the broader strategic interest in stabilising the Lake Chad basin.
The Foreign Office declined to comment on the specifics of the assistance, citing operational security. However, sources indicate that British hostage negotiators have been placed on standby to deploy if requested.
Authorities have imposed a curfew in parts of Maiduguri as search operations continue.
