Police Foil Kidnap Attempt, Rescue Nine Victims on Katsina–Kankara Road

The Katsina State Police Command says its operatives have foiled a kidnapping attempt and rescued nine passengers during a coordinated operation along the Katsina–Kankara Road in Katsina State.

The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, said the incident occurred on June 12, 2026, at about 2:30 p.m., when suspected armed bandits blocked the highway at Tashar Kanya village in Kankara Local Government Area.

According to him, the attackers intercepted a red commercial Volkswagen Golf III Saloon with registration number KMC 400 MK, driven by a 40-year-old man identified as Aliyu, popularly known as “Maitakabari.”

The vehicle was reportedly conveying 11 passengers from Dandume to Katsina when the armed men stopped it and abducted all occupants.

Following a distress call, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Kankara mobilised a tactical team, including operatives of the Violent Crime Rescue Unit (VCRU), to the scene.

“The operatives tactically engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel. Due to the team’s superior firepower and tactical manoeuvres, the hoodlums were forced to flee the scene,” the statement said.

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During a sweep of the area after the encounter, police operatives rescued nine victims unhurt.

The rescued persons were identified as Abubakar Ibrahim (28), Rakkiya Ya’u (30), Shamsiya Ahmad Mahamud (18), Jumai Majarazu (20), Salamatu Adamu (30), Yusuf Halliru (17), Harira Hamisu (25), Umma Kabir (17), and Nusaiba Maharazu (3).

However, two persons — the driver, Aliyu “Maitakabari,” and a passenger, Buhari Kabir — were still unaccounted for at the time of the report. Authorities said a search-and-rescue operation was ongoing to locate them and apprehend the fleeing suspects.

The police spokesperson added that the Commissioner of Police in Katsina State, CP Aliyu Umar Fage, commended the operatives for their swift response and bravery during the operation.

He also reassured residents that the command remains committed to intensifying security operations aimed at clearing criminal elements from highways and rural communities across the state.

Katsina State has continued to experience recurring cases of banditry and highway kidnappings, prompting increased patrols and tactical deployments along major travel routes.

Authorities say further updates will be provided as search operations continue.

Police Foil Kidnap Attempt, Rescue Nine Victims on Katsina–Kankara Road

Edo Gov Okpebholo Orders Probe Into Benin Vegetable Market Kidnapping

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has condemned the kidnapping incident that occurred on Sunday at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road, Benin City, describing it as unacceptable and a direct attack on innocent residents.

In a statement issued on Monday by his media aide, Patrick Ebojele, the governor directed the Edo State Police Command to immediately launch a swift and coordinated investigation into the incident, with orders to secure the rescue of the victim and apprehend those responsible.

The governor also warned that his administration would not tolerate any act capable of threatening public safety or disrupting peace in the state.

“I strongly condemn this act of kidnapping and I call on the Commissioner of Police to immediately open investigation into the matter,” Okpebholo said.

“As a government, we will not tolerate any act that threatens public safety and security or disturbs the peace of the state.”

He urged residents of Benin City and across Edo State to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements or individuals to security agencies, stressing that timely information remains critical to ongoing operations.

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Okpebholo further assured that the state government would not relent until those behind the attack are tracked down, arrested, and prosecuted.

According to reports, the incident occurred when a woman was abducted while shopping at one of the stores within the busy Vegetable Market. A viral video circulating on social media showed the moment the victim was forcibly taken away, sparking panic among traders and residents.

Security sources say preliminary investigations have begun, with operatives working to track the kidnappers and review intelligence from the scene to aid rescue efforts.

Kidnapping incidents have continued to raise concern in parts of Edo State, prompting renewed calls for stronger security presence around markets, highways, and public spaces in Benin City.

Authorities say further updates will be provided as investigations progress.

Edo Gov Okpebholo Orders Probe Into Benin Vegetable Market Kidnapping

Late Gen. Rabe’s Son Denies Claim Father Had Diabetes, Says Mother Still in Captivity

KATSINA, Nigeria — Fresh contradictions have emerged over the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar as one of his sons, Isyaka Rabe, publicly dismissed the Katsina State Government’s claim that his father died from complications of diabetes and hypertension.

In an emotional interview with Deutsche Welle (DW Hausa), Isyaka insisted the late General had no history of either condition and suggested the real cause may have been a snake bite — visible from the last video released by his abductors. He also delivered a stark update on his mother’s fate: contrary to social media rumors, Hajiya Amina Abubakar remains in captivity more than two weeks after the deadly abduction along a rural Katsina highway.

The Katsina State Government, through Commissioner for Internal Security Dr. Nasiru Mu’azu, announced on June 13, 2026, that the retired General died from diabetes and hypertension complications while held by bandits. But family members have rejected that narrative with unusual consistency. “Our father was not diabetic and did not suffer from hypertension,” Isyaka Rabe told DW. “In our view, it was a heart attack. But from the video, you could see his leg was swollen. Some people believe it was a snakebite. Only Allah knows the true cause.” His sister, Adda Abubakar, earlier posted on X (formerly Twitter) handle @Addahaleem, insisting: “My father did not suffer from diabetes. A snake bite was the actual cause of his death.”

The late General and his wife were abducted on May 30, 2026, along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. Their vehicle was ambushed near Zakin Baure village, the driver was shot and wounded, and the bandits later released a four-minute video showing the couple in captivity. In the video, captors demanded the release of three detained fighters and the return of seized livestock. That same video showed the retired General with a severely swollen leg — which the family now points to as evidence of a snake bite, not chronic illness.

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Perhaps the most urgent update from the family concerns Hajiya Amina Abubakar. Social media had been flooded with claims that the elderly widow had been freed. Isyaka Rabe set the record straight: “Whoever says she has been released — I, Isyaka Rabe, son of Major General Rabe — I say that is a lie. She has not been released. Right now, she is still in their custody.” Security sources confirm that rescue efforts are ongoing, but no official timeline has been given. A bandit leader identified as Kachalla Muhammad reportedly claimed in an audio message that he had suspended release plans due to increased security operations in the area.

The late General was buried on June 13, 2026 in Katsina according to Islamic rites, attended by family members, senior military officers, and government officials. But his daughter, Khadija Rabe Abubakar, captured the family’s lingering grief: “We buried our father without our mother by our side. That pain is indescribable. Every day she remains in captivity deepens our trauma.” When asked how the body was recovered, Isyaka directed questions back to the government: “When I announced the time for my father’s funeral prayer, many people asked how the body was recovered. I told them I did not know — they should direct such questions to the government.”

President Bola Tinubu has expressed sorrow over the General’s death, while the Defence Headquarters pledged to intensify operations against bandits in Katsina and surrounding states. However, the state government has not yet responded to the family’s public rejection of its diabetes-and-hypertension claim.

Late Gen. Rabe’s Son Denies Claim Father Had Diabetes, Says Mother Still in Captivity