Katsina Confirms Death of Abducted Retired Major General

Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar has died in the custody of bandits, the Katsina State Government has confirmed, bringing a tragic end to weeks of efforts aimed at securing the release of the former Director of Defence Information.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasiru Mu’azu, announced the development in a statement issued on Saturday. According to the statement, the retired military officer died from complications arising from diabetes and hypertension while being held captive by his abductors.

“It is with profound sadness that we confirm the General’s death while in bandits’ captivity. Despite the relentless and concerted efforts of the State Government and various security agencies to secure his safe release, the situation ended in this tragedy,” the statement said.

The government described the abduction and subsequent death of the retired General as a significant loss to his family, Katsina State, and the nation at large.

Abubakar, who was Director of Defence Information, was travelling to Katsina for a wedding when the armed men struck on Saturday, May 30, 2026. The couple were kidnapped along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, near Zakin Baure village. The retired general’s driver managed to escape from the scene despite sustaining a gunshot wound during the attack, while the red Peugeot 504 assigned to the senior officer was later recovered at the Matazu Divisional Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force.

The abduction marked the second time within a year that a retired senior military officer was seized in Katsina, following the kidnapping of retired Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga, a former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, in 2025.

Days into the captivity, the abductors released a video conveying their conditions. The demands included the release of three of their members identified as Sani, Aminu and Nasiru, as well as the return of livestock allegedly seized from them. The state government had earlier expressed optimism, saying coordinated rescue operations had reached an advanced stage and raising hopes of a positive outcome.

Governor Dikko Umaru Radda extended his condolences to the bereaved family and to Nigerians, describing the incident as a painful reminder of the persistent security challenges confronting communities across the country.

“The Governor has described this incident as a dark moment and a reminder of the urgent need for a collective and intensified response against criminal elements threatening the peace and security of our communities,” the statement added.

The state government reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Federal Government and security agencies to ensure that those responsible for the crime are apprehended and brought to justice. It also assured residents that its resolve to combat banditry and protect lives and property across the state remains unwavering.

The death of Major General Abubakar underscores the continuing security challenges facing parts of northern Nigeria. Across the country, particularly in the North-West, banditry has evolved from isolated incidents of cattle rustling and rural criminality into a sophisticated criminal enterprise driven by kidnapping for ransom, village raids, extortion, and the mass displacement of communities.