ABUJA — A serving Nigerian military intelligence officer, Colonel Abdussalam A. Ude, was killed on Monday evening after putting up a fierce resistance against armed assailants who attempted to abduct him at his home in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja.
The fatal ambush occurred at the officer’s residence in the Kurudu District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. According to security sources, heavily armed gunmen ambushed Colonel Ude just as he arrived home and alighted from his vehicle.
Rather than surrender to the heavily outnumbering attackers, the senior officer fought back to prevent being taken captive. While his courageous resistance prevented the assailants from taking him alive, the gunmen ultimately opened fire, shooting him multiple times at close range.
During the violent confrontation, the attackers also fired at members of his household. Colonel Ude’s wife, his driver, and a security guard sustained varying degrees of gunshot injuries. They were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where they are currently receiving medical treatment.
Colleagues and security sources have described Colonel Ude as a highly respected, courageous, and dedicated intelligence professional who remained composed even in the face of imminent danger. Hailing from Enugu State, he was reportedly due for a promotion to the rank of Brigadier General next year.
Throughout his distinguished career, Colonel Ude held several strategic military intelligence and counter-terrorism positions within the Nigerian Armed Forces. His service record includes extensive operations against insurgents in Nigeria’s North-East, as well as specialized international assignments in the Republic of Chad and France, where he contributed significantly to regional intelligence and security cooperation.
Colonel Ude is scheduled to be buried on Tuesday at the Mambilla Mosque in Abuja, in accordance with Islamic rites.
The tragedy has sparked renewed alarm over the safety of military personnel and the broader security situation within the FCT. The attack echoes the tragic murder of retired Brigadier General Uwem Harold Udokwere, who was killed under similar circumstances in June 2024 when armed men invaded his home in the Lokogoma area of Abuja.
Security agencies have launched a full-scale investigation to determine the exact motive behind the assault and to apprehend the perpetrators. Security experts are already intensifying calls for enhanced protective measures for both serving and retired military officers, particularly those who have held highly sensitive operational and intelligence roles.
For ongoing updates on this developing story, stay tuned to ABT NEWS at www.abtnews.net.
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