The family of slain military intelligence officer, Colonel Abdulrazaq Abdulkareem Udeh, has rejected reports that he was killed while resisting a kidnapping attempt in Abuja, insisting that the senior Army officer was deliberately assassinated by the armed attackers.

The family made its position known on Wednesday, contradicting earlier security reports that claimed the colonel died after confronting gunmen who allegedly attempted to abduct him at his residence in the Kurudu area of the Federal Capital Territory.

In a Facebook post, the deceased’s brother-in-law, Ali Chukwudi, described the incident as a calculated assassination, rather than a failed kidnap attempt.

“Yesterday, Nigeria failed one of its finest,” Chukwudi wrote. 

“My brother-in-law, Colonel Abdulrazaq Abdulkareem Udeh, a senior intelligence officer, who dedicated years of his life to defending this nation, was not killed while resisting a kidnapping, as some reports claimed. He was deliberately targeted and brutally assassinated,” he wrote.

According to him, the attackers shot the officer in the head, killing him instantly, before opening fire on other members of the household.

“They shot my sister, his wife, in the leg. The driver and the gateman were also shot in the legs. As I write this, my sister is in the hospital, fighting to survive,” he said.

Chukwudi lamented that the officer’s life was cut short just months before a promotion he had earned through years of dedicated service.

Describing the killing as an attack on a patriotic soldier, he called for a thorough and transparent investigation to ensure that everyone involved is identified, arrested and prosecuted.

“This was not just another tragic incident. It was a calculated attack on a man who served his country with honour. Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done,” he insisted.

He also prayed for the repose of the officer’s soul and the recovery of his injured wife.

The family’s account differs significantly from preliminary information released by security sources after the attack. 

Initial reports indicated that gunmen ambushed Col. Udeh shortly after he arrived home on Monday evening and attempted to abduct him. 

According to the reports, the officer resisted, despite being outnumbered before he was shot at close range.

A security source familiar with the early investigation had said, “he resisted them. 

“From what investigators have gathered, they wanted to take him away, but he fought back. Unfortunately, he paid the ultimate price.”

The attackers also left the colonel’s wife, driver and security guard with gunshot injuries. 

All three are currently receiving treatment in an hospital.

Before his death, Col. Udeh served in several key military intelligence and counter-terrorism roles within the Armed Forces. 

He participated in operations against insurgents in Nigeria’s North-East and also undertook specialised international assignments in Chad and France.

His killing has reignited concerns over the security of serving and retired military personnel in the Federal Capital Territory, coming barely two years after the killing of retired Brigadier-General Uwem Harold Udokwere, during an attack on his Abuja residence in June 2024.