Gunmen suspected to be armed bandits were said to have shot dead a serving senior military officer in the Nigerian Army, identified as Major General Hassan Ahmed, after which his wife was said to have been abducted.
The incident reportedly occurred late in the evening on Thursday in Abaji, on the outskirts of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, when the said general and his wife were accosted in their vehicle. He was then shot dead and his wife was abducted by the daredevil hoodlums.
Tribune Online gathered that the deceased Maj Gen Ahmed was an erstwhile provost marshal of the Nigerian Army.
He and his wife were said to be travelling from Okene in Kogi State and heading to Abuja when his tragic event occurred.
A family source who craved anonymity in a brief chat with the newsmen said, “the bandits opened fire on the vehicle, in which he was travelling, with his wife and died on the spot. His driver pretended to be dead from the gunshot injuries sustained by him, while the wife of the slain military officer was forcefully taken away by the bandits.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has confirmed the incident, while mourning its slain former army provost marshal.
In a statement by Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director Army Public Relations, the army stated: “With a heavy heart, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya, and Soldiers of the Nigerian Army regret to announce the passing on of Maj Gen Hassan Ahmed, a former Provost Marshall of the Nigerian Army.
“The sad incident occurred when the senior officer’s vehicle was attacked by gunmen while transiting along Lokoja – Abuja road yesterday, 15 July 2021.
“A delegation from the Army Headquarters led by the Chief of Policy and Plans (Army) Maj Gen Anthony Omozoje has visited the widow and other members of the bereaved family. Members of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) led by the Deputy National President, Mrs Stella Omozoje have also visited the family to condole with them.”
