RismadarVoice Reporters
May 30, 2026
Former Director of Defence Information, Major General Rabe Abubakar (retd.), and his wife have reportedly been abducted by suspected bandits along the Matazu axis of Katsina State.
According to sources familiar with the incident, the retired military officer and his wife were travelling to Katsina on Saturday when armed men intercepted their vehicle and took them away.
The abduction was said to have occurred in Matazu Local Government Area, one of the areas affected by recurring attacks by armed groups in the North-West region.
A source disclosed that the retired general’s driver escaped from the scene despite sustaining a gunshot wound during the attack.
“Maj. Gen. R. Abubakar, former Director of Defence Information, was kidnapped together with his wife on his way to Katsina today. He was kidnapped in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. His driver escaped with a gunshot injury,” the source said.
The source further revealed that the retired officer’s vehicle, a red Peugeot 504, was later recovered and taken to the Matazu Divisional Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force.
“The senior officer’s Peugeot 504, red in colour, is parked at the Matazu Division of the Nigeria Police Force,” the source added.
A security alert reportedly circulated among military and security personnel also raised concerns over the incident and called for urgent action by relevant authorities.
The message, said to have been forwarded through security channels, urged authorities to take immediate steps to secure the release of the retired general and his wife.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Katsina State Police Command nor military authorities had issued an official statement confirming the reported abduction.
Major General Abubakar previously served as Director of Defence Information and was one of the principal spokespersons of the Nigerian Armed Forces during his time in service.
Katsina State, alongside neighbouring Zamfara State, has continued to experience attacks by armed groups involved in kidnapping, cattle rustling and other criminal activities despite ongoing military and security operations in the region.
Security agencies have intensified efforts in recent months to curb the activities of criminal gangs operating across the North-West, but incidents of abduction and violent attacks remain a major challenge in several communities.
