A serving military intelligence officer, Colonel Abdussalam A. Ude, was shot dead after resisting armed assailants who tried to abduct him at his residence in the Kurudu district of Abuja.
The officer, a native of Enugu State, was widely regarded as a dedicated professional and had been due for promotion to Brigadier General next year, according to PRNigeria.
PRNigeria gathered that the attackers ambushed him shortly after he arrived home on Monday evening, opening fire as he alighted from his vehicle.
The gunmen attempted to abduct him, but he fought back despite being heavily outnumbered, refusing to surrender.
His resistance, according to security sources, prevented the assailants from taking him away alive, though they eventually shot him multiple times at close range.
During the attack, the gunmen 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 hospital, where they are receiving treatment.
Security sources described Ude as a courageous and highly respected intelligence officer who remained composed even in the face of imminent danger.
“He resisted them. From what investigators have gathered, they wanted to take him away, but he fought back. Unfortunately, he paid the ultimate price,” one source familiar with the preliminary investigation said.
The circumstances surrounding the attack remain under investigation, while security agencies have launched efforts to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
Before his death, Ude held several strategic appointments in military intelligence and counter-terrorism within the Armed Forces.
He took part in numerous operations against insurgents in Nigeria’s North-East and served on specialised international assignments, including missions in Chad and France, where he contributed to intelligence and security cooperation efforts.
His burial is scheduled for Tuesday at the Mambilla Mosque in Abuja, in accordance with Islamic rites.
The killing has renewed concerns over attacks targeting serving and retired military personnel, particularly within the Federal Capital Territory.
Similarly, retired Brigadier General Uwem Harold Udokwere was murdered on June 22, 2024 after armed men invaded his residence at Sunshine Homes Estate in the Lokogoma area of Abuja.
Udokwere was reportedly stabbed to death while defending his family, before the attackers escaped with his firearm and other valuables.
Investigations into Ude’s killing are reportedly ongoing, with security agencies working to determine the motive and identify those responsible.