Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, Wife Abducted by Gunmen in Katsina

Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, and his wife have reportedly been abducted by suspected armed bandits in Katsina State, in a fresh incident highlighting the worsening insecurity across Nigeria’s North-West region.

Sources familiar with the development said the retired senior military officer and his wife were kidnapped on Saturday while travelling to Katsina when heavily armed attackers intercepted their vehicle along the Matazu Local Government Area axis of the state.

The incident reportedly occurred along a stretch of road notorious for repeated attacks by armed criminal groups operating in parts of Katsina and neighbouring Zamfara State.

According to security sources, the attackers ambushed the couple’s vehicle and forcefully whisked them away to an unknown destination.

A source close to the matter disclosed that the retired general’s driver narrowly escaped the attack despite sustaining a gunshot wound during the incident.

“Maj. Gen. R. Abubakar, former Director of Defence Information, was kidnapped together with his wife on his way to Katsina today. He was kidnapped along Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. His driver escaped with a gunshot injury,” the source said.

The source added that the retired officer’s vehicle, a red Peugeot 504, was later recovered and taken to the Nigeria Police Force divisional headquarters in Matazu.

“The senior officer’s Peugeot 504, red in colour, is parked at the Matazu Division of the Nigeria Police Force,” the source stated.

A separate alert reportedly circulated among military and security circles, allegedly forwarded by retired Brigadier General Sagir Musa, calling for urgent intervention by relevant security agencies.

The message appealed for immediate action to secure the safe rescue of the former military spokesperson and his wife.

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As of the time of filing this report, the Katsina State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement confirming the abduction, while military authorities had also not publicly commented on the development.

However, security sources said search-and-rescue efforts had been initiated, with intelligence operatives and local security formations mobilised to track the abductors.

Major General Abubakar is a well-known retired military officer who served as Director of Defence Information, the arm of the Nigerian military responsible for strategic communications and media relations.

His reported abduction has triggered concern within military and security circles due to his status as a former top defence official.

The attack adds to a long list of kidnappings and violent assaults linked to armed bandit groups operating across Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and parts of Kaduna State.

Matazu Local Government Area has witnessed recurring security breaches despite intensified military operations and surveillance in the region.

Katsina State, the home state of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has remained one of the worst-hit states by armed banditry, with criminal gangs frequently targeting communities, highways and high-profile individuals for ransom.

Over the years, both federal and state authorities have introduced military offensives, dialogue initiatives and local peace agreements aimed at ending the violence.

Several of these peace efforts, however, have collapsed amid repeated attacks and allegations that some criminal groups exploit negotiations to regroup and rearm.

Security analysts say the reported abduction of a retired major general further underscores the boldness of armed groups and raises serious questions about the effectiveness of current counter-banditry strategies in the region.

Residents and stakeholders are now awaiting official confirmation and further updates on efforts to secure the release of the retired officer and his wife.

Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, Wife Abducted by Gunmen in Katsina

Driver Dies as SUV Somersaults Multiple Times on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway

LAGOS, NIGERIA – A driver has died after a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) lost control and overturned several times along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway in Lagos State, marking the second major road fatality in the commercial capital within a 10-day period . The fatal accident occurred in the early hours of Saturday at Charity Bus Stop, inward Iyana Isolo , according to a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) , Adebayo Taofiq . The agency said preliminary findings showed that the Honda Pilot SUV suddenly veered out of control before overturning multiple times and coming to a devastating stop . The sheer magnitude of the impact led to the immediate death of the driver, whose body became trapped inside the mangled wreckage of the vehicle .

“Preliminary findings indicate that the Honda Pilot Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) involved in the incident suddenly lost control, causing it to overturn multiple times before coming to a devastating halt. The sheer magnitude of the impact led to the instantaneous death of the driver, whose body became trapped within the severely mangled remains of the vehicle,” the statement read . LASTMA officials, who were carrying out traffic monitoring and management duties in the Iyana Isolo area at the time of the incident, responded swiftly to the emergency . The officers, working alongside personnel of the Mosafejo Police Division , successfully extricated the deceased from the wreckage while managing traffic flow and preventing secondary accidents along the busy corridor . Following the recovery operation, officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) evacuated the remains to a public mortuary in line with established public health procedures . The wrecked Honda Pilot SUV was subsequently handed over to officers of the Mosafejo Police Division, who have commenced investigations to determine the immediate and remote causes of the accident.

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Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki , expressed sadness over the loss of life and extended condolences to the deceased’s family . He urged motorists across Lagos State to exercise caution while driving, obey speed limits, and adhere strictly to traffic regulations, particularly during late-night and early-morning journeys when visibility, alertness, and reaction times may be reduced . Bakare-Oki also warned against reckless driving, dangerous overtaking, excessive speeding, and other traffic violations that could lead to avoidable tragedies on the roads. “Motorists are strongly urged to eschew reckless driving, dangerous overtaking, excessive speeding and every form of traffic infraction capable of precipitating avoidable tragedies on our roads. The sanctity and preservation of human life must remain paramount in the conduct of every road user. No journey is so urgent as to justify compromising safety,” he stated .

This tragic incident occurred just 10 days after a dispatch rider was killed by a trailer at the Ilupeju Bypass . It was gathered that the tragic crash happened after the dispatch rider reportedly engaged in a struggle for right of way with a commercial minibus, popularly known as “Korope” . In the process, he lost control of the motorcycle and collided with a moving articulated trailer along the busy Ilupeju corridor . The impact of the collision caused severe injuries, leading to the rider’s instant death at the scene . LASTMA officials successfully recovered the remains of the deceased rider trapped beneath the trailer while implementing measures to ease the heavy traffic congestion caused by the accident . Bakare-Oki had earlier warned about the rising rate of crashes involving dispatch riders, noting that over 862 crash victims involving dispatch riders were rescued through emergency interventions in 2025 alone . He identified several accident-prone routes including Eko Bridge, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Otedola Bridge, Ikorodu Road, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway , and railway crossings around Ikeja, attributing the crashes to reckless overtaking, driving against traffic, fatigue, poor motorcycle maintenance, and phone use while riding.

Driver Dies as SUV Somersaults Multiple Times on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway

Police Arrest Two Nigerians, Three Others For Gang Rape Of Colombian Tourist

ROME, ITALY – Italian authorities have arrested two Nigerian nationals and three other foreign nationals in connection with the alleged abduction and sexual assault of a 32-year-old Colombian tourist in Rome, who was held captive for 72 hours in an abandoned building where she was repeatedly assaulted . The suspects were identified as Isibor Wisdom, 29, and Paul Nwabueze, 39, both Nigerians. Also arrested were Saidykhan Lamin, 29, and Karamba Kanteh, 38, both from Gambia, as well as Harouna Traore, a 43-year-old Malian .

According to reports from Italian media and international news agencies, the 32-year-old Colombian woman had arrived in Rome on May 16, 2026, together with a friend, for a holiday in the Italian capital . The nightmare began on May 19, 2026, when the victim was dining at a restaurant near Rome’s Termini Station . Investigators said the woman was approached by a man who offered to sell her hashish, a cannabis-derived product. The suspect, described by police as “the bait,” allegedly persuaded the woman to follow him. She walked with him for approximately 30 minutes before they reached a van, where she was forced inside by two other men . The victim was then transported to a deserted building on Via Cesare Tallone in the Tor Cervara district on the eastern outskirts of Rome . According to Italian police sources, the building was occupied by at least 22 undocumented migrants living illegally in the squalid complex .

During her captivity, which lasted three full days (72 hours) , the woman was allegedly repeatedly drugged, threatened with death, and subjected to aggravated gang rape by the five suspects . Police investigators stated that the five men alternated in the assaults over a 36-hour period, with the victim held in an abandoned room with blackened walls, shattered windows, and mattresses thrown on the floor . The victim was also reportedly robbed of her mobile phone and wallet, which prevented her from seeking help earlier . According to Il Tempo, the building where the crimes took place had been previously known to authorities. As recently as May 1, 2026, police conducted a raid there and seized replica firearms, ammunition, ecstasy pills, ketamine, cocaine, hashish, and heroin.

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At dawn on the third day of her captivity, the woman managed to break free from her captors. She was found half-naked on a pavement on Via di Tor Cervara by a passing driver, who immediately rushed her to the nearby Casilino Hospital . Upon examination, doctors identified injuries consistent with sexual assault and confirmed that she had been plied with drugs. The hospital activated a specialist programme for women who are victims of violence and alerted police, triggering an urgent investigation . Investigators from Italy’s Flying Squad Section IV launched an urgent probe. Within days, they reconstructed the events and organized a raid on the abandoned building, involving officers from the Prenestino district, the Forensic Police, and the Police Headquarters’ Immigration Office .

During the raid, police identified 22 non-EU citizens with illegal immigration status living in the building. Eleven of them were issued expulsion orders and taken to detention centres in Ponte Galeria, Palazzo San Gervasio, and Bari pending deportation procedures . Among those identified, five men were later recognized by the victim through photographic identification as the perpetrators of the violence she suffered . The five suspects were arrested and have since been charged with aggravated gang rape, with prosecutors citing the victim’s vulnerable condition—being drugged and held against her will—as an aggravating factor . They remain in police custody pending further legal proceedings .

Italian authorities said efforts are ongoing to track down additional individuals believed to have been involved in the crime. According to Il Messaggero, at least three other people are being sought, including the man who allegedly lured the tourist from the restaurant (described as an Italian man named Antonio), the person who transported her to the abandoned building, and the driver who conveyed her . Investigators are focusing their search on Termini Station, where the abduction occurred, and Tor Bella Monaca, a known drug-dealing square where the victim’s friend reportedly said they intended to buy drugs . The case has intensified political debate in Italy over urban security, migration policies, and the management of illegal squats in Rome’s neglected periphery. Fabrizio Santori, head of the League party in Rome’s assembly, called the incident “confirmation of the total failure of the Gualtieri administration on urban security” . Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies Fabio Rampelli demanded “severe penalties and immediate repatriation of those responsible” . The Colombian consulate in Rome is said to be providing legal and psychological support to the victim as investigations continue.

Police Arrest Two Nigerians, Three Others For Gang Rape Of Colombian Tourist