In brief
Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar, a former military spokesman, was abducted with his wife in Katsina state and later died in captivity, according to the Nigerian military. The incident underscores the persistent threat of bandits and militant groups in the north‑west region. Abubakar’s abduction occurred while traveling to a wedding, and a video depicting his injuries circulated on social media. The army withheld statements to focus on rescue efforts, leaving his wife’s whereabouts uncertain. The force has pledged intensified operations to capture the perpetrators and dismantle terrorist networks.
Kidnapped Nigerian retired general dies in captivity
Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar, a former army spokesman, was abducted with his wife in Katsina state last month and subsequently died while in captivity, the Nigerian military confirmed on Tuesday.
The incident underscores the ongoing threat posed by bandits and militant groups that routinely carry out kidnappings, cattle raids, and attacks on rural communities across north‑west Nigeria.
Abubakar, who served as a senior military spokesman from 2015 to 2017, was reportedly seized while traveling to a wedding on 30 May. A circulated video showed him wounded, with a visible injury to his left leg, alongside his wife and a driver.
The military stated it withheld public comment to concentrate on rescue efforts, but indicated intensified operations to apprehend perpetrators and dismantle terrorist networks threatening the nation.
Abubakar’s wife’s whereabouts remain unknown, and the army called the loss a tragic event, pledging to remember his contributions to counter‑insurgency operations and his commitment to Nigeria’s unity.
AFP via Getty Images
