A serving officer of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Abdussalam Ude, has been killed after suspected gunmen stormed his residence in the Kurudu area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The deadly attack reportedly occurred on Monday evening shortly after the senior military officer returned home from work.
According to reports, the armed assailants attempted to abduct either the officer or members of his family before the situation escalated into a fatal shooting.
During the attack, Colonel Ude was shot and killed, while his wife, driver, and security guard sustained gunshot injuries. The injured victims were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
Security authorities are yet to officially establish the motive behind the attack, although investigations are ongoing to determine whether it was a failed kidnapping attempt or another targeted assault.
Military authorities and other security agencies have since launched a manhunt for the attackers as efforts intensify to bring those responsible to justice.
Colonel Ude, an indigene of Enugu State, served in the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps and held several strategic intelligence and counter-terrorism appointments during his military career.
Throughout his years of service, he participated in numerous operations against insurgents in Nigeria’s North-East and also carried out international assignments in Chad and France, where he contributed to intelligence and security cooperation efforts.
Fellow officers reportedly described him as a dedicated, disciplined, and highly professional soldier who served the nation with distinction.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army had yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident, while investigations into the killing remain ongoing.
