Bandit Leader Seeks Exchange Deal for Release of Retired General Rabe Abubakar

Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar

Bandit Leader Seeks Exchange Deal for Release of Retired General Rabe Abubakar

Katsina State, Nigeria – A notorious bandit leader, Kachallah Muhammad, has established direct communication with the family of the abducted retired senior military officer, Major General Rabe Abubakar Batsari (retd.), demanding the immediate release of his relatives allegedly held in government custody by Nigerian security authorities. The retired Major General and his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, were abducted on Saturday, May 30, 2026, while travelling along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State with their driver, Abdullahi Sa’idu. According to witnesses, armed gunmen emerged from hiding, blocked the road, and opened fire on the couple’s vehicle, forcing it to a halt before abducting the retired officer and his wife into a nearby forest. The driver reportedly escaped despite being hit by gunfire.

A senior local government official in Batsari, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, confirmed to Daily Trust that Kachallah Muhammad opened a line of communication with the family on Monday morning, June 1, 2026 — two days after the abduction. The official confirmed that he personally spoke with the abducted General during the conversation facilitated by the bandit leader. “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 are being adequately taken care of by their captors — a development that has somewhat eased anxiety among relatives and residents of the area.

The official further disclosed that during the interaction, Kachallah Muhammad made his demands clear, insisting on the release of his relatives, whom he claimed were being held by Nigerian security authorities. “He said what he wants is the immediate release of his relatives in government custody,” the official added. Notably, the bandit leader also expressed a willingness to return to negotiations, indicating openness to dialogue aimed at restoring peace in Matazu and other areas under his influence. “He said he is ready to go back to the negotiation table to achieve peace in Matazu and neighbouring communities,” the official stated.

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Kachallah Muhammad (also spelled Kachalla Muhammadu) is a feared gang leader operating in parts of Katsina State, particularly in Matazu, Musawa, Kankia and Charanchi local government areas. He is believed to be under 30 years old and hails from Kogon Maidawa settlement in the Sayaya District of Matazu Local Government Area, where members of his family still reside. According to investigation reports, the initial attack was carried out by a bandit group known as “KB” near Zakin Baure village, close to Matazu town. The kidnappers were initially unaware of General Abubakar’s identity — their primary objective was to capture a senior government official or a wealthy individual to demand ransom. After the KB group seized the couple, the General was handed over to Kachallah Muhammad, who is now believed to be holding him at an undisclosed hideout.

According to an audio recording that previously circulated on social media, Muhammad was reportedly among bandit leaders who embraced a peace agreement brokered by the Katsina State Government. He claimed that after accepting the peace deal, he worked to protect communities in Matazu, Musawa, Kankia, and Charanchi local government areas from attacks by armed groups. However, his relationship with authorities deteriorated after troops from Kano State reportedly raided Jikamshi market, arrested some of his associates, and seized his cattle. He alleged that despite his efforts, neither his men nor the livestock were returned. The raid was reportedly carried out without the approval of security agencies or the Katsina State Government. It was after this incident that Kachallah Muhammad resumed launching severe attacks in the area, including leading an assault on Jikamshi town that resulted in the loss of many lives.

The bandit leader’s demand for the release of his relatives raises familiar questions about government negotiation strategies with criminal gangs — a subject of intense debate following Katsina State Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s recent “Katsina Declaration” on banditry. On May 29, 2026, just one day before General Abubakar’s abduction, Governor Aliyu declared: “We will not negotiate with any criminal, nor will we accept any offer from them unless they surrender unconditionally.” The Governor’s position explicitly rejects the approach of previous administrations. His predecessor, Governor Aminu Masari, had experimented with negotiation and amnesty initiatives, hoping that engagement and concessions would lead to an end to banditry. However, the armed groups reneged on the agreements, regrouped, rearmed, and returned to the forests with renewed audacity.

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However, just months before the Governor’s declaration, in January 2026, the Katsina State government had justified its decision to facilitate the release of 70 suspected bandits, describing the move as essential to consolidating community-driven peace agreements with “repentant bandits” in several local government areas. The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Muazu, had defended the initiative at the time, stating that the strategy had already yielded measurable outcomes, including the release of nearly 1,000 abducted persons across multiple LGAs including Safana, Sabuwa, Faskari, Dan Musa, Malumfashi, and Jibiya. The apparent contradiction between the state’s January 2026 policy of releasing suspected bandits and Governor Aliyu’s May 2026 declaration of “no negotiation without unconditional surrender” highlights the complex and evolving security strategy in Katsina State. As of this report, authorities have yet to officially comment on how — or if — this policy will apply to the ongoing hostage situation involving the retired Major General.

Relatives and residents of Batsari have expressed deep concern over the abduction of the retired senior military officer, describing the incident as a devastating blow to both his family and the community that has benefited from his years of service and philanthropy. Mariya Ibrahim, a relative, said the retired General 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 alive and unharmed,” she said. Another relative, Aisha Abubakar Batsari, described the retired officer as the pillar of the extended family and pleaded for urgent intervention to secure his release.

Ibrahim Mamman Batsari, a resident, warned: “If a retired senior military officer can be kidnapped, then ordinary citizens are even more vulnerable. Government must rise to its responsibility.” 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, highlighting his continued active involvement in community development projects in Batsari even after leaving military service.

A security expert, Abubakar Ibrahim, described the incident as a sign of dangerous escalation 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 warned.

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the abduction and stated that efforts are now underway to rescue the couple and track down their captors. General Abubakar served as Defence Headquarters spokesperson between 2015 and 2017 and later as Director of Defence Information (DDI) , making him a well-known figure in Nigeria’s military establishment. As of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, negotiations are allegedly ongoing with intermediaries linked to Kachallah Muhammad in an effort to secure the safe release of Major General Abubakar and his wife. Authorities have yet to officially comment on the reported demand for the release of the bandit’s relatives.

The abduction comes amid escalating violence in Katsina State. Just days before the General’s abduction, on Friday, May 29, 2026, armed men reportedly raided Kiliya village in Dutsinma Local Government Area, killing at least 16 people. Katsina remains one of the states most affected by banditry and kidnapping in Nigeria’s North-West region, where criminal gangs frequently carry out kidnappings for ransom, cattle rustling, and attacks on rural communities. The abduction of a retired two-star general — a former Defence spokesperson — represents a significant escalation in the security crisis, signaling that even high-profile retired military officers are no longer safe from the reach of bandits operating in the region.