Former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal, Alex Badeh (rtd) has been shot dead by some yet-to-be-identified gunmen, the Nigerian Air Force announced Tuesday.
A statement released on Twitter by the Air Force Spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said Badeh, 61, died from gun wounds sustained when his vehicle was attacked by gunmen on Abuja-Lafia Road. He was reportedly returning from his farm when he ran into an ambush by gunmen at Gitata village, along the Keffi-Badeh Road.
The military has since recovered his body.
This was how Daramola broke the news on his twitter handle, @KunleDaramola3, at 10.20 p.m., Tuesday:
“It is with a heavy heart that I regretfully announce the unfortunate demise of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who died today, 18 Dec 18, from gunshot wounds sustained when his vehicle was attacked while returning from his farm along Abuja-Keffi Road.”
Another tweet on Daramola’s handle, also at 10.20p.m., conveyed the condolence and sympathy of the incumbent Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar, to Badeh’s family:
“On behalf officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar, commiserates with the family of the late former Chief of Defence Staff over this irreparable loss. We pray that the Almighty God grants his soul eternal rest.”
The late Badeh had, prior to his death, been standing trial on some corruption allegations, having been accused of financial misappropriation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in February 2016. He had consistently denied involvement in any financial misconduct.
Alex Sabundu Badeh was born 10 January, 1957, in Vimtim, Mubi LGA of Adamawa state.
He was educated at Vimtim Primary School and Villanova Secondary School.
He obtained his secondary school certificate in 1976 and gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1977 as a member of the 21 Regular Course.
He was commissioned Pilot Officer on 3 July 1979 and commenced his flying career at the 301 Flying Training School on the Bulldog Primary Trainer aircraft in 1979.
Between 1981 and 1982 he attended the Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base in the United States Air Force. He was at the 301 Flying Training School (FTS) as a squadron pilot and later became an instructor pilot on the Bull Dog and DO-228 aircraft.
He rose through the ranks and became Air Vice Marshal in 2008.
He became the 18th Chief of Air Staff in October 2012 and was appointed Chief of Defence Staff in January 2014.
He held the post till July 13, 2015, when he was retired by the Buhari administration.
Since then, he had faced a court trial for alleged theft of defence funds during his tenure.
