A former chief of defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh (retd.), has been shot and killed.
It was gathered that the 61-year-old retired air force chief was killed along the Abuja-Keffi Expressway while returning from his farm.
He was also said to have been shot along with his driver on Tuesday.
The director of public relations and information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, who confirmed the incident in a statement wrote: “It is with a heavy heart that I regretfully announce the unfortunate demise of a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.), who died today, December 18, from gunshot wounds sustained when his vehicle was attacked while returning from his farm along the Abuja-Keffi Road.
“On behalf of officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar,commiserates with the family of the late former Chief of Defence Staff over this irreparable loss.
“We pray that the Almighty God grant his soul eternal rest,” the statement read.
Born on January 10, 1957 in Vimtim, Mubi local government area of Adamawa State, Badeh served as the 18th Chief of Air Staff and the 15thChief of Defence Staff of the armed forces of Nigeria.
He attended the Vimtim Primary School, Vimtim and went on to obtain his secondary school certificate from the Villanova Secondary School in 1976 before proceeding to the Nigerian Defence Academy.
Badeh was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 21 Regular Course on January 3, 1977, and was commissioned as Pilot Officer on July 3, 1979.
He was promoted Air Vice Marshal on January 3, 2008. Between2008 and 2009, he was a Directing Staff at the National Defence College, Abuja,Nigeria and subsequently became the Director National Military Strategy at the same college. Thereafter, he moved to Defence Headquarters as Deputy Director Training and later became the Director of Research at the Defence Headquarters.
From October 2010 to March 2012, Badeh moved to the Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force as Chief of Policy and Plans.
Subsequently, in March 2012, he was appointed Air Officer Commanding Training Command, Kaduna.
From October 2010 to March 2012, Badeh moved to Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force as Chief of Policy and Plans
He was Commander of the Presidential Fleet, during the Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidency.
He became Chief of Air Staff from October 2012-April 2014)during which he initiated Optimizing Local Engineering (OLE 1 and 2) to focus on developing indigenous Unarmed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and other weapon systems.
The OLE teams consisted of Nigerian Air Force officers with PhDs and master’s degrees in various fields of aerospace design, avionic and armament specializations from the Cranfield University in the UK.
The late air force chief was appointed Chief of Defence Staff, April 2014 – July 2015.
During the time, he initiated and constructed the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) extension complex fitted with a befitting joint operations room, conference hall, the office spaces, Penthouse to receive guests.
Prior to his death, Badeh before was being prosecuted for alleged N3.9 billion fraud while in office.