DHQ Launches Fresh Offensive in Katsina to Hunt Killers of Retired General Rabe

DHQ Launches Fresh Offensive in Katsina to Hunt Killers of Retired General Rabe

KATSINA, Nigeria — The Defence Headquarters Joint Task Force North West has launched a fresh military offensive code-named Operation Clean Sweep III in Katsina State, aimed at hunting down and eliminating the bandits and terrorists responsible for the abduction and subsequent death in captivity of the former Defence Spokesperson, retired Major General Rabe Abubakar.

A statement released on Monday by Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North West) under Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said the offensive, which kicked off on Sunday, June 14, 2026, focuses on the Matazu Local Government Area and adjoining communities where the criminal networks operate. The operation was launched in direct response to the incident that led to the retired general’s death, with the military stating that the offensive is aimed at locating and neutralizing the perpetrators of the “heinous act,” dismantling criminal networks, and restoring security within the affected communities.

General Rabe and his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, were abducted by suspected terrorists on May 30, 2026, along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu LGA. The retired general was traveling with his driver and wife to Katsina for a wedding ceremony when the terrorists emerged near a village called Zakin Baure, blocked the road, and opened fire on his vehicle, a red-coloured Peugeot 406 car. The driver escaped with gunshot injuries and was later admitted to a hospital.

While the retired general died while being held in the kidnappers’ den and was buried on June 13, his wife is believed to still remain in the hands of the captors. The late senior military officer was laid to rest on Sunday at about 6:00 p.m. at the Gidan Dawa Cemetery, located opposite his residence in Katsina metropolis, following funeral prayers attended by a large crowd of mourners.

The military confirmed that troops have already recorded notable successes since the operations commenced. To crush the criminal syndicates, fighting patrols, intelligence-led raids, cordon-and-search operations, and thorough clearance missions have been deployed across all suspected terrorist enclaves within the Joint Operations Area.

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The Defence Headquarters revealed that breakthroughs have already been achieved in the Dikkawa Hills general area, as well as surrounding communities including Adua, Nasarawa, and Karaduwa. During these intensive operations, troops successfully searched and combed several criminal enclaves, discovering and completely destroying the terrorists’ life-support structures, operational logistics bases, and camps. The JTF emphasized that the destruction of these hubs has severely degraded the criminals’ ability to launch attacks or operate freely within Katsina State.

The military said the offensive is being conducted in collaboration with sister services, other security agencies, and local stakeholders, whose support has contributed to ongoing efforts to improve security in the state. The Theatre Command reassured residents of Matazu and surrounding communities of its commitment to protecting law-abiding citizens and denying terrorists and bandits freedom of movement within the region.

The Theatre Command also urged members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information that could assist security agencies in tracking and apprehending criminal elements, assuring that all information received would be treated confidentially. The command added that troops would sustain pressure on terrorists and bandits until the objectives of Operation Clean Sweep III are fully achieved, with further updates to be provided as the operation progresses.

General Rabe, who served as the Director of Defence Information at Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters between 2015 and 2017, had a high-profile role as military spokesman. The military paid tribute to the major general, describing the loss as “tragic” and noting that he made “immense contributions to counter-insurgency operations.” According to local media reports, he was 61 when he died.

The abduction and death of Abubakar highlight the continuing security challenges facing parts of north-west Nigeria, where criminal gangs known locally as “bandits” frequently carry out kidnappings for ransom, as well as cattle rustling and attacks on rural communities. Katsina has been one of the states most affected by the violence.

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Some local government areas in Katsina, including Jibia, Batsari, Kurfi, Safana, Danmusa, Matazu, Musawa, Kankara, Faskari, Malumfashi, and Bakori, had previously agreed to establish peace accords with terrorists in their areas. However, while some of these areas have seen relative calm, the situation in Matazu, Bakori, Musawa, Kankia, and Malumfashi has only deteriorated. The Marabar Musawa–Musawa–Matazu–Kafin Soli road where the general was abducted became volatile after the peace deal broke.

Even before the May 30 abduction, there were several cases of abduction on the road as well as attacks on communities and towns in the area. According to reports, Muhammadu Fulani, the terrorists’ leader in the Matazu-Musawa area, accused the state government of arresting three of his men and seizing his livestock. The abductors had demanded the release of detained bandits and the return of confiscated livestock as conditions for his freedom.

On June 6, the terrorists released a video clip of the couple begging for the government to rescue them. The wife, who spoke, asked the government to facilitate the release of some three terrorists arrested by security agents in exchange for the couple’s freedom. On June 8, the terror group leader, Muhammadu Fulani, said he would not release the wife of the general as promised, after the government dispatched security agents to the area to fight him.

On June 12, a special prayer session was organised at the Sa’ad Bin Abi Waqqas Mosque in Barhim Estate, Katsina city, at 5 p.m. Several relatives and friends attended the prayer session, where the Imam called on the government to ensure the safe return of Rabe, his wife, and all abducted victims. On the morning of June 13, a WhatsApp message began circulating, especially in Katsina, saying the general had died Friday night, June 12.

On Saturday, the Katsina State Government confirmed Abubakar’s death, with Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs Nasiru Mu’azu stating that he “died a natural death from complications of diabetes and hypertension.” However, family members and other sources countered the claim, saying the late major general had no history of diabetes. They maintained that he died after being bitten by a snake while being held captive by the kidnappers.

Speaking in an interview with Deutsche Welle (DW), Isyaku Rabe, the deceased’s son, described the government’s account as inaccurate, insisting that his father had no known history of either diabetes or high blood pressure before his abduction. “Our father was not diabetic or hypertensive,” he said. The family also dismissed reports circulating on social media suggesting that the late general’s wife had regained her freedom. According to Isyaku, his mother remains in captivity, contrary to some sources who claimed she was released alongside her husband’s remains.

Recounting the family’s ordeal, Khadija Rabe Abubakar, the general’s daughter, said they initially believed their parents would be rescued alive. “When we heard the news of our father’s death, we were shocked and heartbroken because we had hoped they would be rescued alive and unharmed, based on assurances from many quarters,” she said. “We buried our father without our mother by our side. That pain is indescribable. Every day she remains in captivity deepens our trauma.”

DHQ Launches Fresh Offensive in Katsina to Hunt Killers of Retired General Rabe