Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, has died while being held captive by bandits, weeks after he and his wife were abducted in Katsina State. The development was confirmed by the Katsina State Government, which described his death as a tragic loss to the nation.
Gatekeepers News reports that Abubakar and his wife were kidnapped on May 30 while travelling through Katsina when armed men ambushed their vehicle and took them to an undisclosed location. Following the abduction, military authorities said efforts were underway to secure their release and track down the perpetrators.
Reports indicate that the retired general remained in captivity for about two weeks before news of his death emerged. While details surrounding the circumstances of his death remain unclear, the incident has renewed concerns over the worsening security situation in parts of northern Nigeria, particularly Katsina State, which continues to experience frequent attacks by bandits and kidnappers.
Abubakar was a respected senior military officer who served as the Nigerian Army’s spokesperson and later as Director of Defence Information before his retirement. His abduction had sparked widespread concern within security circles, given his status as a former top military official.
The incident adds to a growing list of high-profile kidnappings involving retired military officers. In 2025, retired Major General Maharazu Tsiga, a former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was also abducted in Katsina and spent 56 days in captivity before regaining freedom.
Authorities have yet to provide further details on the fate of Abubakar’s wife or whether any arrests have been made in connection with the abduction.
