A retired Nigerian major general, known for his tenure as the army spokesperson between 2015 and 2017, reportedly lost his life while held captive by armed men in north‑west Nigeria, the Nigerian military confirmed.
Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar was taken hostage along with his wife and a driver on 30 May while traveling to a wedding in Katsina state.
The abduction occurred in an area that has become a hotspot for bandit kidnappings, cattle rustling and attacks on rural communities in the region. The incident also comes shortly after a U‑S airstrike on a suspected militant camp in neighbouring Sokoto state that had targeted jihadists involved in violent operations across the state.
For several days before the announcement of Abubakar’s death, a video circulated on social media showing the former general with an apparent leg injury, accompanied by his wife and other hostages. Nobody has claimed responsibility for their detention.
The Nigerian Armed Forces issued a statement saying that all available resources had been deployed to rescue Abubakar and any other hostage, but the military withheld details of the situation while the operation was underway. They further said that the authorities were intensifying legal measures against the perpetrators and any terrorist networks involved.
While the whereabouts of Abubakar’s wife remain unknown, the military paid tribute to the general, describing his death as "tragic" and acknowledging his significant contributions to counter‑insurgency operations. The loss has prompted wider discussions about the need for stronger security arrangements on the country’s frontiers, where the rise of banditry, militancy and kidnappings continues to threaten civilians and public officials alike.
