Nigeria's former defence spokesman kidnapped
Rabe Abubakar, a retired major general, and his wife were believed to have been kidnapped by members of kidnapping-for-ransom and cattle-rustling gangs.
Rabe Abubakar a former Nigerian defence spokesman was reportedly travelling with his wife and their driver when they were ambushed. (FILE PHOTO/AFP)
________________
KANO — Gunmen Saturday kidnapped a former Nigerian defence spokesman and his wife in northwestern Katsina state, according to a security report and a local source.
Rabe Abubakar, a retired major general, and his wife were believed to have been kidnapped by members of kidnapping-for-ransom and cattle-rustling gangs.
A spokesman for the police in Katsina, Abubakar Aliyu, told local media that the couple was seized by "bandits".
Katsina is one of several states in northwestern and central Nigeria where criminal gangs, referred to as "bandits" by the locals and security agencies, kidnap travellers on highways, raid villages, abduct residents and loot homes before burning them.
A security source in Katsina told AFP that Abubakar, his wife and their driver were travelling from his hometown of Matazu to a wedding in the state capital, Katsina, about 90 kilometres (56 miles) away when they were ambushed.
Gunmen attacked the trio around 11:00 am (1000 GMT), "kidnapping the former Director of Defence Information, Rabe Abubakar, and his wife," according to a security report prepared for the United Nations and seen by AFP.
"They also shot and injured his driver."
The drivers escaped with gunshot wounds and were receiving treatment in a hospital, local media reported.
Pictures shared online showed a maroon-coloured sedan said to be the vehicle that Abubakar was travelling in when he was ambushed bearing two bullet holes.
Abubakar was Nigeria's defence spokesman between August 2015 and March 2017 before retiring.
He was the second retired military general to be kidnapped in Katsina state, where bandits have intensified attacks despite several state government-backed peace negotiations with communities.
In February 2025, Maharazu Tsiga, a retired brigadier general and former director-general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was abducted by bandits from his residence in Tsiga, along with nine other residents.
He was held captive for 56 days before being released after his friends pooled money to pay a ransom, according to a statement from his committee of friends after his release.