PlightTalk News
A retired Nigerian Army officer and former Director of Defence Information, Major General Rabe Abubakar, and his wife have reportedly been abducted by suspected armed bandits in Katsina State, raising fresh concerns over the persistent insecurity plaguing parts of northwestern Nigeria.
According to reports, the incident occurred on Saturday along the Matazu axis in Matazu Local Government Area while the retired military officer and his wife were travelling to Katsina.
Sources familiar with the incident disclosed that the armed attackers intercepted the couple’s vehicle and forcefully took them away to an unknown destination. The retired general’s driver reportedly escaped from the scene despite sustaining a gunshot wound during the attack.
Security sources indicated that the vehicle involved in the incident, a red Peugeot 504 reportedly assigned to the retired officer, was later recovered and taken to the police divisional headquarters in Matazu.
A security alert circulated among military and security contacts shortly after the incident called for urgent intervention by relevant authorities and efforts to secure the release of the victims.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigeria Police Force nor military authorities had issued an official statement confirming the abduction or providing details of ongoing rescue operations.
The reported kidnapping has once again drawn attention to the security challenges confronting communities across northwestern Nigeria. Katsina State and neighbouring Zamfara State have remained among the regions most affected by armed banditry, with criminal groups frequently carrying out kidnappings, attacks on communities, cattle rustling, and other violent crimes despite ongoing military and security operations.
Over the years, federal and state authorities have implemented a range of security measures and peace initiatives aimed at curbing violence in the region. However, attacks and abductions have continued to occur across several local government areas, highlighting the complexity of the security crisis.
The fate of the retired general and his wife remains unknown as efforts to obtain further information continue.
