Colonel Abdussalam A. Ude, a serving Nigerian military intelligence officer, has been shot dead after reportedly resisting an abduction attempt by armed men at his residence in Badna, New Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The senior officer, who hailed from Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State and was reportedly due for promotion to the rank of Brigadier General next year, was attacked shortly after arriving home on Monday evening, July 27, 2026.
According to security sources, the gunmen ambushed Colonel Ude as he stepped out of his vehicle and immediately opened fire in what appeared to be a planned kidnapping operation.
Rather than surrender, the officer reportedly fought back despite being heavily outnumbered, foiling the attackers’ bid to whisk him away.
The assailants then allegedly shot him multiple times at close range, killing him on the spot.
The attackers also opened fire on members of his household during the assault, leaving his wife, driver and security guard with varying degrees of gunshot injuries. They were rushed to a hospital, where they are receiving treatment.
Colonel Ude is expected to be buried on Tuesday at the Mambilla Mosque in Abuja in accordance with Islamic rites.
An Igbo Muslim, the slain officer was widely described by colleagues as a dedicated intelligence operative who served the Nigerian military with distinction. His killing has heightened concerns over the growing wave of violent attacks targeting residents in the Abuja-Nasarawa axis.
