Details have emerged of how former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, was shot dead on his way from his farm along Abuja-Keffi road on Tuesday.

The gunmen were said to have shot sporadically at his vehicle, a common robbery tactic on that road. The mode of attack, according to experts, may put to rest speculation that he was assassinated.

But another theory suggests that Badeh may have been silenced by persons directly and remotely linked to his trial for alleged embezzlement of N3.9 billion meant for military equipment while in office. The killers may have made it appear like robbery, a military source said.

Since his reported murder by yet-to-be-identified gunmen, Nigerians have shown outrage especially coming months after the murder of a General in the Nigerian Army.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has begun liaison with relevant authorities to probe the murder of the Air chief.

Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, had Tuesday night confirmed his death in a statement in Abuja.

He said that the former defence chief died from gunshot injuries sustained when his vehicle was attacked while returning from his farm along Abuja-Keffi road on Tuesday, and described the incident as “unfortunate”.

“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 grants his soul eternal rest. Details later,” Daramola stated.

Born on Jan. 10, 1957, the late Badeh would have been 62 years old in January.

The late retired four-star flag officer of the Nigerian Air Force was the 18th Chief of Air Staff from Oct. 4, 2012 to Jan. 16, 2014, and the 15th Chief of Defence Staff from Jan. 16, 2014 to July 13, 2015.