Bandits holding a retired Nigerian Army general and his wife captive have released a disturbing proof-of-life video, escalating tensions over their abduction in Katsina State.
The video shows retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, and his wife in captivity. The couple were abducted along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, near Zakin Baure village.
In the four-minute video circulating on social media, the wife of the retired general conveyed the abductors’ demands, which include the release of three of their members identified as Sani, Aminu, and Nasiru, as well as the return of livestock allegedly seized from them. According to her, two of the detained individuals were arrested in Jikamshi, while the third was arrested in Kano.
She also appealed to the Katsina State Government and leaders across five local government areas to help facilitate compliance with the demands to secure their release.
The retired general, who spoke briefly in the video, called for efforts to ensure peace, adding that the abductors had expressed willingness for dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
The abduction of a retired senior military officer of Major General Rabe Abubakar’s standing has sent shockwaves through security and defence circles, raising fresh questions about the safety of prominent citizens in Nigeria’s Northwest region.
Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement on the status of rescue operations at the time of this report.
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