[News] Gunmen assassinate retired Airforce general and his physiotherapist in Kaduna

Gunmen suspected to be assassins have killed a former director of medical training operation, at the Defence headquarters, Air Vice Marshal M. M. Maisaka (Rtd) at his residence in Rigasa, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

 

It was gathered that the deceased was shot dead alongside his physiotherapist (also a NAF personnel) on Monday night, November 8.

 

The deceased’s son and brother-in-law Saleh Bala, confirmed the news on the social media on Tuesday.

 

“Innalillahi wa innailaihir raijun…pls say a prayer for my Dad (Air vice marshal maisaka). He was assassinated at his residence yesterday (Monday) alongside his orderly” the son wrote.

 

It was learnt that the late Airforce General was one of the finest neurologists in the country before he took ill sometimes ago, and travelled to India to seek for medical attention before returning to the country two months ago.

 

According to Nigerian Tribune, a family source who pleaded for anonymity disclosed that his killing might not be unconnected with the ongoing banditry in the country where he was seen in his community as a shield.

 

“Yes you know our community has been subjected to series of attacks by the bandits. But while he was alive he tried his best to thwart their onslaught on several occasions. They were not happy,” the source said.

 

Reports revealed that a threat message was sent to him about two weeks ago, and the content of the message revealed that he was going to be killed Monday night.

 

The threat message was reported to the police and other security operatives.

 

Meanwhile, the late officer’s brother-in-law took to Facebook to narrate how the incident happened. Read below:

 

”AVM Mohammed Maisaka (Rtd) murdered.

 

May Allah keep ahead of Nigeria’s affairs and our lives. Yesterday late evening, armed men arrived my brother in-law’s house AVM Mohammed Maisaka (Rtd) at Rigasa, Kaduna, met him in the living room with his wife, my sister Inno and shot him to death.

 

They had first gone to the boys quarters and picked his physiotherapist (also a NAF personal), who they forced to lead them into the main house. In the commotion they also shot the physio to death. Certainly a case of a planned murder.

 

They responded to my sister’s plea to them to also take her life by telling her that they did not have a problem with her, and just casually left the house without picking a thing or threatening anyone further. Maisaka had been paralyzed from a medic condition for about 3 years and had been in rehabilitation until his murder yesterday.

 

Whoever is responsible for this must have held a long grudge against him, because Maisaka has long not been in circulation, but only about and between treatment abroad, convalescent at home or at a local hospital for evaluations or emergency care. Allah knows best. May his shahada (martyrdom) grant him Jannah. Ameen!

 

Maisaka was one time Director of the Nigerian Air Force Medical Services, and an ABU Teaching Hospital lecturer of Internal Medicine, who helped in producing hundreds of doctors across Nigeria and abroad.

 

In spite family opposition, he built and was running a private hospital in the densely populated Rigasa community, as his typical character for social work. He refused in spite his privileges of social status to live outside the community where he also built his retirement home. Our family has lost. Nigeria has lost, indeed. ”