Retired Nigerian General Rabe Abubakar Dies in Captivity After Katsina State Kidnapping
Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who served as military spokesman from 2015 to 2017, has died while being held captive by gunmen in north-west Nigeria. Abubakar and his wife were abducted last month in Katsina state.
No group has publicly claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. This incident underscores the ongoing security challenges in the region, where criminal gangs, often labelled as "bandits," frequently engage in kidnappings for ransom, cattle rustling, and assaults on rural communities. The area has also seen activity from militant jihadist groups; a US airstrike targeted an alleged militant camp in Sokoto state in December.
Katsina has been particularly affected by this violence. Local reports indicate that Abubakar, 61, was en route to a wedding on 30 May when armed individuals attacked his vehicle, seizing him, his wife, and their driver.
Days before his death was confirmed, a video circulated on social media purportedly showing Abubakar in captivity, displaying an injury to his left leg, alongside his wife and other hostages.
The military stated it had refrained from public comment on the abduction during rescue efforts. A spokesman confirmed that operations have now been "intensified to bring perpetrators to justice and to dismantle all terrorist networks." The whereabouts and condition of Abubakar's wife remain unknown.
The military paid tribute to Major General Abubakar, acknowledging his "immense contributions to counter-insurgency operations" and describing his loss as "tragic."
