Former Director of Defence Information, Major General Rabe Abubakar (retd.), and his wife have reportedly been abducted by suspected terrorists along the Matazu area of Katsina State.
According to sources, the retired military officer and his wife were travelling to Katsina on Saturday when armed attackers intercepted their vehicle and forcefully took them away. The incident reportedly occurred within Matazu Local Government Area, a region that has witnessed repeated attacks by armed groups in recent years.
A source familiar with the development disclosed that the general’s driver escaped during the attack despite sustaining a gunshot wound. The source further revealed that the officer’s red Peugeot 504 vehicle was later recovered and is currently being held at the Matazu Divisional Police Headquarters.
Information circulating among security personnel also raised concerns over the abduction and called for urgent action by relevant authorities to secure the victims’ release.
As of the time of reporting, neither the Katsina State Police Command nor military authorities had issued an official statement confirming or denying the incident.
Katsina and neighbouring Zamfara states remain among the areas most affected by insecurity in northwestern Nigeria, with armed groups frequently carrying out kidnappings, killings, cattle rustling and attacks on rural communities despite ongoing security operations.
Over the years, authorities at both state and local levels have explored various peace initiatives and negotiations aimed at reducing violence in the region. However, many of these efforts have yielded limited success, as attacks by armed groups continue across several communities.
