A serving officer of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Abdussalam A. Ude, has been shot dead by suspected gunmen who reportedly invaded his residence at the Army Post Service Estate in Kurudu, Abuja, in an apparent kidnap attempt.
The late officer, who served in the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps, was said to have resisted the attackers after returning home from work before he was fatally shot during the encounter.
Sources said the assailants also opened fire on members of his household, leaving his wife, driver and security guard with varying degrees of gunshot injuries. The victims were rushed to a hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
Col. Ude, an indigene of Nsukka in Enugu State, belonged to the 50 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy and was said to have participated in several counter-insurgency operations in the North-East as well as other international assignments. He was also reputed to be fluent in Arabic and other foreign languages, a skill said to have supported intelligence operations.
The deceased officer was reportedly among senior military officers expected to be considered for promotion to the rank of Brigadier General later this year.
A military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said preliminary findings indicated that the attackers intended to abduct the officer but met stiff resistance.
The source said, “The information available so far suggests they wanted to take him away, but he resisted them. Sadly, he lost his life in the process.”
Military authorities and other security agencies have since launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those behind the attack.
The late officer was buried on Tuesday evening in accordance with Islamic rites.
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