By Our Reporter
A serving military intelligence officer, Colonel Abdussalam A. Ude, was shot dead after fiercely resisting an attempted abduction by armed assailants at his residence in the Kurudu area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The attack, which occurred on Monday evening, also left the officer’s wife, driver and security guard with gunshot wounds. The three victims were rushed to hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
According to PRNigeria, the assailants ambushed the senior officer shortly after he arrived home and was stepping out of his vehicle. The gunmen reportedly opened fire and attempted to force him into captivity.
However, Colonel Ude, described by security sources as a courageous and highly respected intelligence officer, refused to surrender despite being heavily outnumbered. He reportedly fought back in a desperate bid to thwart the abduction.
Security sources said his resistance frustrated the kidnappers’ plan to take him away alive, prompting the attackers to shoot him multiple times at close range.
“He resisted them. From what investigators have gathered, they wanted to take him away, but he fought back. Unfortunately, he paid the ultimate price,” a source familiar with the preliminary investigation said.
Colonel Ude, an indigene of Enugu State, was widely regarded as a dedicated military professional. He was reportedly due for promotion to the rank of Brigadier General next year.
Before his death, he held several strategic appointments in military intelligence and counter-terrorism within the Armed Forces. He participated in numerous operations against insurgents in Nigeria’s North-East and also served on specialised international assignments in Chad and France, contributing to intelligence and security cooperation efforts.
Security agencies have launched an investigation into the attack and are working to identify and apprehend those responsible.
His burial is scheduled for Tuesday at the Mambilla Mosque in Abuja in accordance with Islamic rites.
The killing has renewed concerns over the growing spate of attacks targeting serving and retired military personnel, particularly within the Federal Capital Territory, raising fresh questions about security in the nation’s capital.
