The Nigerian defence forces released a statement today confirming that the wife of retired Major‑General Rabe Abubakar has been rescued from a six‑week ordeal in which her husband was held captive by armed bandits in the north‑western state of Katsina. The ex‑general had died over the weekend while in captivity, his death attributed to diabetes and high blood pressure according to state officials.
According to the Defence Information Authority, the rescue operation was the result of intensified search‑and‑rescue efforts that had begun at the end of the month following the couple’s abduction. Troops advanced on the kidnappers’ hideout, recovered the wife, and reported that she was wounded when she was shot during the operation but is now receiving medical care in a military hospital.
One of the couple’s daughters shared a brief message on WhatsApp confirming the rescue and expressed deep gratitude towards the army for what she called divine mercy and protection, praying for the widow’s full recovery and peace of mind after the ordeal.
Authorities have not identified the group responsible for the abduction. In northern Nigeria, criminal gangs, commonly referred to locally as bandits, routinely carry out kidnappings for ransom, cattle rustling and attacks on rural communities. Militant jihadist groups are also active in the region, with a US airstrike targeting a camp in Sokoto state in December. The kidnapping crisis remains a persistent challenge for Nigerian security forces.
Military Commitment
The director of defence information stated that troops will continue operations and that the armed forces leadership remains committed to ensuring the widow’s full recovery and to providing all necessary support to her family and the recovering forces.
President Bola Tinubu described the general’s death as shocking and a reminder of the threat presented by armed criminal groups across Nigeria. The rescue operation underscores the urgency of the nation’s ongoing counter‑bandit and counter‑terrorism campaign and the necessity for coordinated intelligence and rapid response teams in the region.
