Gunmen attack Army Colonel in Abuja, kill officer, injure family members

Gunmen have been reported to have assassinated Colonel Abdussalam Ude, a serving Nigerian Army officer, during an assault on his private residence in the Kurudu area of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

According to sources, the assault took place on Monday evening, just after the military officer returned from work.

In the course of the assault, according to the sources, the gunmen allegedly tried to kidnap the officer or members of his family. While Colonel Ude was killed during the attack, his wife, driver, and guard were all injured by gunshots.

The injured persons have since been taken to hospital for medical attention.

While the background of the assault is not known yet, the motive behind the attack has not been determined yet.

According to sources close to the development, security operatives have started investigating the assault.

Colonel Ude, who was said to be from Enugu State, served in the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps and held several strategic intelligence and counter-terrorism appointments during his military career.

He reportedly participated in counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria’s North-East and was deployed on international assignments, including in the Republic of Chad and France, where he contributed to intelligence and security cooperation efforts.

Colleagues reportedly described him as a dedicated and professional officer.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army had not issued an official statement on the incident. Further details are expected as investigations continue.