A serving officer of the Nigerian Army, Colonel Abdussalam Ude, has been killed after gunmen attacked his residence in the Kurudu area of Abuja.

According to sources, the incident happened on Monday evening shortly after the senior military officer returned home from work.

The attackers were reportedly attempting to abduct either the officer or members of his household when the situation turned violent.

Colonel Ude was shot dead during the attack, while his wife, driver, and security guard suffered gunshot wounds.

The injured victims were rushed to a hospital, where they are receiving medical attention.

Authorities have yet to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident, and the motive behind the attack has not been officially confirmed.

Security agencies, alongside military authorities, have launched investigations to track down those responsible for the killing.

Colonel Ude, an indigene of Enugu State, served in the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps and occupied several key intelligence and counter-terrorism positions during his years of service.

He was involved in military operations against insurgents in the North-East and also undertook international assignments in the Republic of Chad and France, where he supported intelligence and security cooperation initiatives.

Colleagues reportedly described him as a committed and highly professional officer.

As of the time this report was filed, the Nigerian Army had not released an official statement on the incident, while investigations remain ongoing.

Suspected bandits have renewed attacks on several communities in Lau Local Government Area of Taraba State, killing five people, injuring several others and forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes over the past month.

The attackers are reported to have taken control of communities including Kunini, Jimlari, Garin-Magaji, Donnada and Garin-Dogo, where residents say kidnappings and violent attacks have become frequent.

Among those abducted was the village head of Garin-Magaji, Jauro Tace, who was reportedly kidnapped at gunpoint and later released after a ransom was allegedly paid.

Residents said the five victims were killed in separate attacks carried out between June 30 and July 27, 2026, mostly during kidnapping attempts.

DAILY POST visited the affected communities and confirmed that hundreds of residents, particularly Fulani families, have fled their settlements and are now taking refuge in Garin-Dogo, the headquarters of Garin-Dogo Ward.

Displaced persons, mainly women and children, said they fled Ruga Alhaji-Kadiri, Ruga Alhaji-Adamu and Ruga Alhaji-Kamuwa to avoid further attacks by the bandits.

Many of the displaced families were seen sheltering at the residence of the Legislative Leader of Lau Local Government Council, Dauda.

Speaking, a resident, Joseph Mustafa, said fear has gripped the entire local government area, with many people unable to sleep peacefully because of the renewed insecurity.

“Nobody in Lau sleeps with both eyes closed anymore because of the activities of the bandits,” Mustafa said.

Expressing concern over the resurgence of the attacks, he recalled that shortly after assuming office, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas had significantly reduced banditry in the area.

Efforts to reach the Chairman of Lau Local Government Council, Peter Julius, for comment were unsuccessful.

However, a senior government official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, told DAILY POST that the renewed attacks had forced many farmers to abandon their farmlands.

“The activities of the bandits have chased farmers away from their communities. There is the likelihood of hunger if the security agencies do not address the situation urgently,” the official said.

Meanwhile, DAILY POST visited the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, where two victims of the attacks, Musa Umar and Alhaji Abdul Biro, are receiving treatment.

The victims, who were attacked by the gunmen in Bumanda village in Jimlari community, said the assailants were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, making it difficult for residents to resist them.

Residents have appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify operations in the affected communities to restore peace and enable displaced villagers to return to their homes.

Following a coordinated security operation involving police tactical teams and the military, the Sokoto State Command of the Nigeria Police Force said it has rescued 32 kidnapped victims and foiled a major bandit operation in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

In a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, the command said the operation took place on Tuesday in Maikujera village, a remote community bordering Zamfara State, following intelligence received by the Divisional Police Officer in Rabah that a large group of armed bandits had invaded the area.

The statement added that the attackers were moving with rustled livestock and dozens of abducted victims while shooting sporadically at residents.

According to the statement, the Divisional Police Officer immediately mobilised tactical units, including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violent Crime Reaction Unit (VCRU), and coordinated with the Nigerian Army’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) to block all possible escape routes.

The security operatives engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle, forcing the attackers to abandon their captives and stolen livestock before fleeing into the forest.

Following the exchange, security operatives combed the surrounding bushes and rescued all 32 kidnapped victims.

“The rescued victims comprise six adult males and 26 females, the majority of whom are children. They have been evacuated to a safe location, where they are receiving medical and psychological support and will be reunited with their families shortly,” Rufai said.

The police, however, disclosed that four persons were killed by the bandits during the initial attack before security operatives arrived at the scene.

The command said the Commissioner of Police in Sokoto State, Hayatu Shaffa, expressed sympathy with the bereaved families and assured residents that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

It added that he reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating banditry and kidnapping across the state.

Shaffa urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or individuals to the nearest security agency.