The Nigerian Army has confirmed the murder of its former Provost Marshal, Major General Hassan Ahmed and the abduction of his sister in the same incident.

The Army also announced that the late General will be buried by 10:00am on Friday morning.

General Ahmed was murdered Thursday night in the Abaji area, along the Lokoja-Abuja expressway when assailants intercepted the vehicle he was travelling in from Okene and opened fire on the occupants. His driver survived after pretending to have been killed.

Confirming the incident to newsmen, a family source disclosed that Ahmed and his sister were coming from Okene, Kogi State when they were attacked.

“They opened fire on his vehicle, he died. The driver pretended to be dead from the wound he sustained, so they took the sister away”, the family source said.

Ahmed reportedly traveled in a Toyota Hilux with private plate numbers and without military escorts.

Until his death, Ahmed, army number N/9698 was a Director at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

Army reacts

Also confirming the death of Ahmed in a statement, the Nigerian Army, in a statment issued by its Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu on Friday commiserated with the family of the deceased.

The statement noted also that the incident happened when the top officer’s vehicle was “attacked by gunmen while transiting along Lokoja – Abuja road.”

Nwachukwu disclosed that an Army delegation, led by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Major General Anthony Omozoje, has visited the widow and other members of the bereaved family.

“With a heavy heart, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, Officers 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.

Members of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), led by the Deputy National President, Stella Omozoje have also paid a condolence visit.

“The remains of the deceased senior officer will be accorded a befitting burial at the Lungi Barracks Cemetery on Friday, 16 July 2021 by 10 a.m.”, the statement added.

Nwachukwu conveyed the sympathies of the Chief of Army Staff, Faruk Yahaya, officers and men of the military arm.

Nigeria is currently battling insecurity at numerous fronts with major roads becoming hotspots for attacks and abductions by armed gangs of criminals. 

Ahmed's death comes just days after suspected armed robbers shot dead an army officer, Maj. M.S. Isma’il and wounded his orderly Pte. Harisu Aliyu.

The robbers attacked the officer and soldier, while they were travelling from Maiduguri to Kaduna.