ABUJA, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- A former Nigerian defense chief Alex Badeh was late Tuesday ambushed and shot dead by unknown gunmen, according to military authorities on Wednesday.

Badeh, a former Chief of Defense Staff and Air Chief Marshal, was attacked near Nigeria's capital Abuja and died from gunshot wounds, the Air Force spokesman Ibikunle Daramola reveal this in a series of tweets.

Daramola said the late defense chief was returning from his farm when the gunmen attacked his vehicle on Abuja-Keffi expressway in central Nigeria.

A source said two others were killed in the attack.

Daramola became the Chief of Air Staff in October 2012 and was appointed Chief of Defense Staff in January 2014.

He held the post till July 13, 2015.