Abducted General, Wife Beg Gov’t for Rescue in New Video
A retired Major General of the Nigerian Army, Abubakar Rabe, and his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, who were abducted along the Karaduwa–Matazu Road in Katsina State exactly a week ago, have appeared in a new video begging the government to come to their aid. The four-minute video shows the couple in captivity relaying their abductors’ demands, which include the release of three detained individuals and the return of seized livestock, with no ransom demand mentioned throughout the footage.
The video, which surfaced on social media on Saturday, June 6, 2026, shows the retired general and his wife standing side by side as they appeal to government authorities and community leaders to intervene and secure their release. Speaking in the video, Hajiya Amina conveyed the kidnappers’ demand for the release of three of their members identified as Sani, Aminu, and Nasiru. According to her account, two of the detained individuals were arrested in Jikamshi, Katsina State, while the third was arrested in Kano State. The abductors also demanded the return of livestock, including cows and sheep, which they alleged had been confiscated from them by authorities. “We are appealing to the Katsina State Government and leaders of the affected local government areas to help address these demands so that we can regain our freedom,” Hajiya Amina said in the video. She specifically appealed to Governor Dikko Radda and the local government chairmen of Matazu, Musawa, Kankia, Charanci, and Kusada to facilitate compliance with the demands. The wife further claimed that the abductors insisted they play a role in securing the area. “Additionally, these individuals play a vital role in protecting this area; they have informed us that they are actively securing the land,” she said.
The retired army general, who spoke briefly in the video, called for efforts to ensure peace, stating that the abductors had expressed interest in dialogue and peaceful coexistence. “The people holding us have expressed a desire for peaceful coexistence. I appeal to all concerned to work towards peace and ensure that this matter is resolved amicably,” he said. Appealing for dialogue, the couple urged authorities to pursue reconciliation with the group. “Since the primary duty of the government is to provide security for its citizens, we urge the authorities to cooperate, sit down with them, and find a lasting solution. Reconciliation is always the best path, as Allah says, ‘Al-Sulhu Khayran’ (peace is better),” Hajiya Amina said. Throughout the video, no monetary ransom demand was mentioned, a departure from the pattern typical of many kidnapping incidents in the region.
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The retired major general was travelling to Katsina on Saturday, May 30, 2026, alongside his wife and their driver, Abdullahi Sa’idu, when their vehicle was ambushed along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area. The attack occurred near Zakin Baure village around 11 a.m., where witnesses said armed men, believed to be bandits, suddenly emerged from hiding, blocked the road, and opened fire on the vehicle, forcing it to a halt. In a statement, the Katsina State Police Command confirmed the attack, stating that suspected armed bandits wielding dangerous weapons attacked a red Peugeot 406 saloon along Karaduwa-Matazu Road. The driver, Abdullahi Sa’idu, sustained a gunshot injury to his right arm. The two occupants—Major General Abubakar Rabe (rtd) and Hajiya Amina Abdullahi—were abducted before the arrival of security personnel. The Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar Fage, visited the scene of the incident and ordered the deployment of additional personnel and assets to reinforce the ongoing search-and-rescue operation.
A notorious bandit leader, Kachallah Muhammad, who operates in parts of Katsina State, has reportedly established communication with relatives of the victims. The bandit kingpin opened a line of communication with the family of the retired general on Monday, June 1, two days after the abduction. A senior local government official in Batsari, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that he personally spoke with the abducted officer during the conversation facilitated by Kachallah Muhammad. “I spoke with Major General Rabe through Kachallah Muhammad. He told us that he is hale and hearty and that his wife is also fine,” the official said. According to the source, the retired general assured his family and associates that they were being adequately taken care of by their captors. The official further disclosed that during the interaction, Kachallah Muhammad made his demands clear, insisting on the release of his relatives allegedly being held by Nigerian security authorities. “He said what he wants is the immediate release of his relatives in government custody,” the official added. The bandit leader also expressed willingness to return to negotiations, indicating openness to dialogue aimed at restoring peace in Matazu and other areas under his influence.
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The Defence Headquarters has ordered the deployment of intelligence assets following the abduction, with troops working around the clock to secure the release of the senior officer. A senior military officer, who spoke in confidence regarding the development, declined to give details of the ongoing operation but said “we are working round the clock to rescue him.” Major General Abubakar Rabe, a retired major general, served as Director of Defence Information, the media arm of the Defence Headquarters, between 2015 and 2017. During his tenure, he was one of the military’s principal spokespersons and frequently briefed Nigerians on security operations across the country. His abduction was earlier disclosed by former Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who cited information from retired army spokesperson Sagir Musa.
Relatives and residents of Batsari have expressed deep concern over the abduction, describing the incident as a devastating blow to both his family and the community that has benefited from his years of service and philanthropy. A family member, Mariya Ibrahim, said the retired general, whom she described as the family’s breadwinner, was travelling to Katsina for a wedding with his wife when they were abducted. “He served this country with dedication and deserves protection even in retirement. We want him and his wife rescued unharmed,” she said. Another relative, Aisha Abubakar Batsari, described the retired officer as the pillar of the extended family and appealed for his safe rescue. A community leader, Haruna Mai Maganin Kwari Batsari, said the retired officer was expected in the town on the day of the incident to discuss community matters before news of the abduction spread. A resident, Ibrahim Mamman Batsari, said the incident had created fear among ordinary citizens. “If a retired senior military officer can be kidnapped, then ordinary citizens are even more vulnerable. Government must rise to its responsibility,” he said.
Security analyst Abubakar Ibrahim described the development as reflecting growing boldness among armed groups and a deepening security crisis in Katsina State. “The kidnapping of a retired Major General shows how emboldened bandits have become. It exposes the vulnerability of major highways and rural communities. If urgent and decisive action is not taken, the situation could further deteriorate,” he said. As of the time of filing this report, neither the Katsina State Government nor security agencies had issued an official statement regarding the video released by the abductors. The incident underscores continuing security concerns in Katsina State and the wider North-west region, where kidnapping and bandit attacks remain persistent despite ongoing military and police operations.