A Nigerian Navy Officer, Lieutenant Commander M. Buba, tragically lost his life in Kaduna after being attacked and stabbed by a suspected robber on Sunday morning. The incident, which occurred around 4:50 am near the Kawo flyover bridge, has been confirmed by the Kaduna State Police Command and has raised concerns about local security and gang activity in the area.

Lt.-Cdr. Buba, who was a student at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) in Jaji, was reportedly returning to base. Sources and eyewitness accounts indicate that he had stopped his black Toyota vehicle, with registration number APP-745HT, to fix a flat tyre when he was accosted by the assailant. The attacker demanded the officer's mobile phone, and when Lt.-Cdr. Buba resisted, he was stabbed in the chest with a sharp object, believed to be a knife.

Following the attack, Lt.-Cdr. Buba was rushed to Manaal Hospital for emergency medical attention. Unfortunately, he was declared dead by a medical doctor upon arrival. His remains were subsequently deposited at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital mortuary.

During the altercation, a local vigilante named Suleiman Dahiru attempted to intervene and assist the naval officer. Mr. Dahiru was also attacked and stabbed in the hand by the assailant. He is reportedly receiving medical treatment for his injuries.

The suspected attacker did not escape the scene. According to police reports and eyewitness accounts, after robbing the officer and attempting to flee, the assailant was overpowered by an angry mob composed of passersby. The mob reportedly beat the suspect to death on the spot.

DSP Mansir Hassan, the spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday. He stated that Lt.-Cdr. Buba was attacked and robbed of his mobile phones by the yet-to-be-identified individual, who was subsequently killed by a mob. DSP Hassan affirmed that an investigation and monitoring efforts are ongoing in the general area to apprehend any other individuals involved and to address the security situation.

The Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) also acknowledged the incident. Lieutenant Colonel Umar Adamu, a spokesman for the college, confirmed the attack and stated that an investigation was underway to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the officer's death.

This violent event has heightened concerns regarding the resurgence of urban criminal gangs, colloquially known as ‘Sara Suka’, particularly around the Kawo axis of Kaduna, which has seen repeated reports of robberies and attacks in recent months. In response, security sources indicated that covert operations have been launched by troops, police, and other civil security agencies to identify and remove criminal elements loitering around strategic locations, bus stops, and other known black spots within Kaduna metropolis.