Body of kidnapped Colonel Samaila Inusa found rotting on the outskirts of Kaduna

ABDUCTED Nigerian Army officer Colonel Samaila Inusa who was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen on Saturday has been found dead near Ajyaita village on the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis.

 

Over the weekend, Col Inusa was kidnapped along a highway in Kaduna State in what eyewitnesses are describing a commando-style operation likely carried out by professionals.   Witnesses say the gunmen whisked away the officer who was driving his Mercedes-Benz car around Kamazo, along Kaduna Refinery Road, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

 

At the time of his abduction, he was with his wife, who the kidnappers later dropped off as they drove the soldier away to an unknown location. Following the kidnapping, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, the general officer commanding the First Mechanized Division of the Nigerian Army promised a N500,000 (£17,500) cash reward for anyone with useful information that could lead to the release of Col Inusa.

 

Colonel Sani Usman, the acting director, of army public relations, said:“The Nigerian Army wishes to regrettably inform the public that Colonel Samaila Inusa who was kidnapped on Sunday, 27th March, 2016, was found dead today at about 6pm. Preliminary investigations revealed that, most likely, the late senior officer was killed same day he was kidnapped by his abductors.

 

"This is because the body was found already decomposing around Ajyaita village, off Eastern Bypass Kaduna, in Kaduna State. We wish to state, in unmistakeable terms, that whoever is behind his abduction and murder would be fished out to face the full wrath of the law.”

 

Army authorities have moved the body of the late colonel to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna. Abduction of prominent persons, mostly for monetary gains has become a trend in Nigeria lately but the abductors of the late Colonel Inusa did not demand or wait for any ransom, indicating, it might have been an assassination.

 

It is expected that a full autopsy would be carried on the remains of the late colonel to determine how he died. Then Lieutenant Colonel Samaila Inusa, was the commander of the 81 Battalion located in Bulabulin, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State and was later promoted to the rank of colonel in December 2015 and transferred to the Armed Forces and Command Staff College, Jaji, where he was serving until his abduction on Sunday.