Bandits Abduct Retired Army General, Wife in Katsina

Suspected bandits have kidnapped retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, along with his wife in Katsina State.

The incident occurred on Saturday while the couple was travelling through the state. According to reports, armed assailants ambushed their vehicle and took them to an unknown location.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Michael Onoja, confirmed the development, stating that security agencies have launched efforts to rescue the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.

As of the time of filing this report, the Katsina State Police Command had not released an official statement on the abduction.

Katsina remains one of the states most affected by bandit attacks and kidnappings despite ongoing military operations aimed at curbing insecurity.

In March, three soldiers were reportedly killed during a gun battle with bandits in Danmusa Local Government Area of the state.

The latest incident adds to a growing list of attacks targeting retired senior military officers. In February 2025, retired Major General Maharazu Tsiga, a former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was abducted in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Tsiga spent 56 days in captivity before regaining his freedom.