The family of slain Nigerian Army officer, Colonel Abdussalam A. Ude, has rejected reports that he was killed while resisting a kidnap attempt, insisting instead that he was deliberately assassinated.
Speaking on behalf of the family, the late officer’s elder brother, Emmanuel Ude, dismissed the widely circulated account that gunmen attempted to abduct the senior military intelligence officer before shooting him. According to him, the nature of the attack points to a targeted assassination rather than an ordinary kidnapping. He argued that the assailants appeared to have come with the sole intention of killing the officer and not taking him hostage.
Initial reports had indicated that Colonel Ude was attacked shortly after arriving at his residence in the Kurudu area on the Abuja–Nasarawa border. Security sources said the gunmen tried to abduct him, but he resisted and was shot multiple times at close range. His wife, driver and security guard also sustained gunshot wounds during the attack.
The family, however, questioned that narrative, maintaining that no credible evidence has been presented to support claims of an attempted abduction. They urged security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to establish the true motive behind the killing and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
Colonel Ude was a serving military intelligence officer who had held several strategic counter-terrorism and intelligence appointments within the Armed Forces. He was reportedly due for promotion to the rank of Brigadier General next year. Investigations into his death are ongoing.
