Shot by Bandits, Saved by Soldiers: Dramatic Rescue of General’s Wife in Katsina

Shot by Bandits, Saved by Soldiers: Dramatic Rescue of General’s Wife in Katsina

Nigerian Army troops have rescued the wife of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, following a fierce gun battle with armed bandits in Katsina State.

The dramatic rescue came days after the woman was abducted by gunmen in Matazu Local Government Area, one of several communities in Katsina that have come under repeated attacks by bandits involved in kidnapping, cattle rustling and other violent crimes.

The operation, conducted by troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA under the military’s ongoing Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, was launched after intelligence reports pinpointed the movement of the kidnappers and their victim.

Security analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed the development in a report posted on his verified X account on Monday night, citing military sources.

According to the sources, troops tracked the kidnappers to Tunga village, where they engaged the criminals during a search-and-rescue mission. Overwhelmed by the military offensive, the bandits reportedly fled the area, abandoning their captive.

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“The bandits shot her and fled when we made contact at Tunga village. We have rescued Mrs. Abubakar. She is bleeding. We have given her first aid and are moving her for urgent medical attention,” a military source was quoted as saying.

Although injured during the encounter, Mrs. Abubakar was stabilised by military personnel and evacuated for urgent medical treatment.

The rescue is being viewed as a significant breakthrough in the fight against banditry in the North-West, particularly in Katsina State, which has remained one of the epicentres of the security crisis despite sustained military operations.

Maj.-Gen. Abubakar, who served as Director of Defence Information between 2015 and 2018, was the military’s chief spokesman during some of Nigeria’s most challenging security operations. His wife’s abduction had heightened concerns about the growing audacity of criminal gangs operating across the region.

In recent months, troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have intensified offensives against bandit enclaves in Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and parts of Kebbi States, leading to the rescue of several kidnapped victims and the neutralisation of scores of armed criminals.

Military authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the latest operation, but security sources described the rescue as a major success in ongoing efforts to restore security across the North-West.

Shot by Bandits, Saved by Soldiers: Dramatic Rescue of General’s Wife in Katsina