Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar (retd.) has died while being held by gunmen after his abduction in Katsina State on 30 May. He, his wife and their driver were seized while travelling to a wedding; a circulated video later showed him injured in captivity. No group has claimed responsibility. The military said it withheld public comment during rescue efforts and has since intensified operations as the whereabouts of his wife remain unconfirmed.
Retired Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar Dies in Captivity Following Katsina Kidnapping
Retired Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar, pictured here in 2009, was spokesman for the army a decade ago [AFP via Getty Images]
Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar (retd.) has died while being held by gunmen after he was abducted in north-west Nigeria, the Nigerian Armed Forces have confirmed. Abubakar, who served as the military’s spokesman from 2015 to 2017, was seized along with his wife and driver while travelling in Katsina State.
Kidnapping and Captivity
Local reports say the retired general was travelling to a wedding on 30 May when armed men attacked his vehicle and took him, his wife and their driver. Days later, a video circulated on social media that appeared to show Abubakar in captivity with an apparent injury to his left leg; the footage also showed his wife and other hostages.
Military Response
The Armed Forces said it withheld public comment while active rescue efforts were under way:
[Getty Images/BBC]
"In deference to ongoing rescue efforts by security agencies, the Armed Forces withheld public comment while every operational resource was deployed in the hope of securing his safe return."
The defence establishment has since confirmed Abubakar’s death and described the loss as "tragic," offering condolences to his family and colleagues. Local media reported he was 61 years old. The military paid tribute to his contributions to counter-insurgency operations and said intensified operations are continuing to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Wider Security Context
The kidnapping and death underline persistent security challenges in parts of north-west Nigeria, where criminal gangs—commonly referred to as "bandits"—regularly carry out kidnappings for ransom, cattle rustling and attacks on rural communities. Some Islamist militant groups have also operated in the region; an alleged militant camp in neighbouring Sokoto State was struck by a US airstrike on 25 December.
As of the military's latest statement, the whereabouts and condition of Abubakar's wife remain unconfirmed. Security forces say operations to locate those responsible and to dismantle threatening networks have been intensified.
What This Means
The incident highlights both the personal toll of ongoing violence and the broader challenge facing Nigerian security agencies as they try to protect civilians and neutralise armed groups across the north-west.
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