The FCT Police Command has said that a serving military officer, Colonel Abdussalam A. Ude, was not killed by suspected kidnappers within the Federal Capital Territory, contrary to reports circulating on social media.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Command said an in-depth investigation ordered by the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, revealed that the incident occurred in Badna, New Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
“The Command acknowledges the gravity of the reported incident, but wishes to state categorically that the incident did not occur within the Federal Capital Territory,” the statement signed by Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said.
The command expressed concern that some blogs and media outlets had “deliberately attributed the incident to the FCT” in an attempt to gain traction, adding that such reports create “unnecessary panic, heighten public anxiety, and misinform residents of the nation’s capital.”
In response, CP Sanusi has ordered the immediate deployment of operational and intelligence assets to border communities adjoining the FCT and Nasarawa State to prevent any attempt by criminal elements to infiltrate the capital or perpetrate crimes within it.
The police also condemned “false and unverified publications” and called on media organizations, bloggers, and social media users to verify security-related information with appropriate authorities before publication.
“The spread of unverified reports not only misinforms the public but also undermines public confidence and creates unnecessary fear,” the statement said.
The command urged residents to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding, and to promptly report any suspicious persons, movements, or activities to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency lines.
Colonel Ude’s death was earlier announced by the Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, which said the senior officer was killed in an attack at his residence in Phase 5, Army Housing Estate, Kurudu, Abuja, on 27 July 2026.