Nigerian Army colonel shot dead during kidnap attempt

Gunmen have killed a senior military officer, Colonel Abdussalam A. Ude, during an attempted abduction at his residence in Badna, New Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The attackers reportedly invaded Ude’s home during heavy rainfall on Monday night and attempted to take him away.

However, the officer resisted and was shot several times.

“They came during the rain. They wanted to kidnap him, but he resisted. He was shot multiple times,” a community source said.

The Divisional Police Officer in charge of Kurudu reportedly visited the scene on Tuesday and evacuated Ude’s body to a morgue.

Initial reports placed the incident in Abuja, but the Federal Capital Territory Police Command clarified that the attack occurred in Nasarawa State.

FCT police spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh initially directed inquiries to the Nasarawa State Police Command, saying the incident was outside the command’s jurisdiction.

The command later confirmed that investigations located the crime scene in Badna, a Nasarawa community bordering the FCT.

Police Commissioner Ahmed Sanusi subsequently ordered the deployment of operational and intelligence personnel to communities along the FCT–Nasarawa border.

The command said the action was necessary to stop criminal gangs from infiltrating Abuja.

It also criticised media outlets that attributed the killing to the FCT, warning that inaccurate security reports could create panic and undermine public confidence.

Meanwhile, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, said the Nigerian Army was preparing an official statement on the killing.