Critical stakeholders as well as retired top military echelons yesterday bemoaned the killing of a retired General of the Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. H Udokwere, by armed robbers, at his residence in Abuja.
It was learnt that his house, located at No 1, Sanga Street, Sunshine Homes by popular Kabusa Junction in Lokogoma Area of the Federal Capital Territory, was attacked at about 3:00 am.
But the authority of the Nigerian police in the FCT was yet to comment on the incident as at when filing this report last night.
A security guard at the estate and the retired senior military officer were reportedly injured during the attack – the development those spoken to condemned and described as “sad and unfortunate”.
According to the wife of the retired senior military officer, the recent attack that happened in the early hours of Saturday made it the third time the criminals would raid the estate.
Narrating their ordeal further, the elderly woman also explained that the robbers asked for her jewelry while they also carted away the pistol of the retired general, adding that she heard gunshots afterwards.
Also speaking, the general’s neighbour identified as Pastor Awe, said after the attack, one of the guards that was injured by the armed robbers was taken to the military hospital at Abacha Barracks.
The retired general, a member of 15th Regular Course of Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) with service number N/5575, was referred to National Hospital Abuja (NHA) where he was confirmed dead.
Meanwhile, the management of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives’ Association Hospital had since sent an ambulance vehicle to retrieve the late general’s body from National Hospital.
Estate residents in panic mood
Residents of the estate have been in a panic mood over the incident, and they have been discussing the issue among themselves since when the day broke.
A resident of the estate, who spoke to our correspondent last night via the telephone, described the incident as one of the “terrible issues” that happened in recent times within the estate.
“The sound of gunshots rented the air but nobody could go out at that wee hours to find out what was happening, hence, the reason criminals were able to wreak havoc,” the resident, who doesn’t want his name in print, said.
It is sad, unfortunate
–Ex-army spokesman
Commenting on the development, the former spokesman for the Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman Kukasheka, condemned a situation where human lives of innocent Nigerians are being wasted by the armed robbers.
Kukasheka, who is the National Publicity Secretary of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), said, “It is not a matter of blame-game. Such things are quite sad and unfortunate, that residents or citizens including the residents of Abuja, their lives are not secure, given what happened.
“The whole idea is there should be renewed and concerted efforts to check the criminalities, not just the issue of banditry, which is mostly in the rural areas and the criminalities in the urban areas.
“The long and short of it is that there should be renewed efforts to deal with this. It is not just a kinetic aspect. To a large extent, this issue of insecurity emanates from the issue of socio-economic conditions people find themselves.
“If people are properly educated, before they venture into crime, it will be difficult. We’re gradually losing our humanity. Why should you waste human lives?”
Another retired general expressed sadness over the killing of the late retired senior military officer, while calling on the police and other security agencies to go after the criminals and bring them to book.
“Honestly, I’m not happy with the sad incident. It is so painful to see that human lives are being wasted like that of chickens without any consequence,” the retired general, who doesn’t want his name in print, said.
Police launch manhunt
Meanwhile, the police authority in the FCT, has ordered its men to go after the criminals, insisting that justice would be served in the regrettable incident.
The Commissioner of Police in the nation’s capital, Benneth Igweh, while consoling the family of the deceased, vowed that those responsible for the dastardly act won’t go unpunished.
He said this in a statement issued by the spokesperson of the command, Josephine Adeh, a superintendent of police.
“In response to the tragic and unprecedented attack at Sunshine Homes Estate by armed robbers, resulting in the untimely demise of one Brigadier General Uwem Harold Udokwere (rtd.) on June 22, 2024, at approximately 03:00 a.m, the Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, has promptly ordered a thorough and discreet investigation into the circumstances surrounding this regrettable event.
“Expressing profound condolences to the bereaved family, CP Benneth Igweh, assures the family and the public of swift justice, with every effort in conduit to ensure the perpetrators of the atrocious act are apprehended and brought to justice.
“Furthermore, the commissioner of police reaffirms the unflinching commitment of the command to amplify the security landscape of the nation’s capital, by continually adapting strategies to effectively combat evolving criminal activities.”
Adeh disclosed that the command would provide updates on the matter after conclusion of the discreet investigation ordered by the CP. (Daily Trust)
