The family of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe has expressed deep sorrow and growing concern following the release of a video showing the former senior military officer and his wife in captivity at what appeared to be a forest hideout.

Rabe, a former Director of Defence Information, was reportedly travelling to Katsina State on May 30 with his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, and their driver, Abdullahi Sa’idu, when their vehicle was ambushed along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area of the state.

The attack occurred near Zakin Baure village, where armed men suspected to be bandits reportedly emerged from hiding, blocked the road and opened fire on the vehicle, forcing it to stop.

Sources said the driver sustained a gunshot wound to the hand during the attack but was later spared by the assailants.

A notorious bandit leader, Muhammadu Kachalla, is said to have established contact with members of the victims’ family following the abduction.

Concerns over the fate of the victims heightened at the weekend after the kidnappers released a four-minute, two-second video showing the retired general and his wife in captivity.

In the video, the couple were seen standing and relaying the demands of their captors.

Speaking in the footage, the general’s wife said the abductors were demanding the release of three detained associates identified as Sani, Aminu and Nasiru.

According to her, two of the detainees were arrested in Jikamshi, while the third was arrested in Kano.

The abductors are also demanding the return of livestock they claimed were seized during security operations at Jikamshi market in neighbouring Musawa Local Government Area.

She appealed to the Katsina State Government and leaders of five local government areas to facilitate compliance with the demands in order to secure their release.

The retired army general, who spoke briefly in the video, called for efforts to ensure peace, saying the abductors had expressed interest in dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

“They told us how committed they were to protecting the area and ensuring lasting peace. However, over time, they became disappointed with the response of local authorities. I believe the government should return to the negotiation table with these people to restore sustainable peace,” he said.

The couple appeared calm and composed, with no visible signs of physical abuse.

‘The video broke us’

Speaking in tears, Mariya Ibrahim, a younger sister of the retired general, said the family was devastated after watching the video.

“When we saw him and his wife in that condition, we broke down completely. This is our brother, someone who served this country all his life. We are begging the government to act quickly before it is too late,” she said.

Another relative and close associate, Ibrahim Mamman Batsari, said the emotional impact of the footage had left the family in constant distress.

“This is not just an abduction; it is psychological torture for the family. Seeing him helpless like that has shattered us. The government must act now, not tomorrow,” he said.

Aisha Abubakar Batsari, also a younger sister of the retired general, said the family had been living in fear since the video surfaced.

“We no longer sleep. Every time we close our eyes, we see that video. We are worried about their health, their safety, everything,” she said.

Two younger brothers of the abducted general, Abubakar Barau Batsari and Hamisu Abubakar Batsari, described the footage as traumatic.

Since watching the video, we have been crying constantly. It traumatised us. We are appealing to the federal and Katsina State governments, and all security agencies, to rescue them alive and unharmed,” Hamisu said.

Abubakar added: “Every delay is dangerous. We are pleading with the authorities to treat this case as an emergency.”

The abduction has also unsettled residents of Batsari and neighbouring communities.

A community leader, Alhaji Haruna Mai Maganin Kwari Batsari, said the video had heightened fear among residents.

“People are afraid. If a retired major general and his wife can be abducted and filmed like this, then ordinary citizens are completely exposed,” he said.

A Katsina-based security analyst, Abubakar Ibrahim, described the footage as symbolic of a broader security challenge facing the country.

“This video reflects how emboldened criminal groups have become. It is extremely painful to see a retired senior military officer in such a helpless situation. It sends a dangerous message about the state of our security,” he said.

He urged security agencies to urgently review their strategies.

“This should trigger a serious reassessment of intelligence gathering, response time and operational readiness. The country must show that it can protect its citizens, especially those who once protected it,” he added.

Why I refused to release Gen. Rabe’s wife – Bandit leader

The leader of the bandit group holding Major General Rabe (rtd) and his wife, Muhammadu Kachalla, has explained why he allegedly reversed an earlier decision to release the retired officer’s wife.

In a leaked audio conversation between the Chairman of Matazu Local Government Area and the bandit leader obtained by Daily Trust, Kachalla said he initially agreed to free her but changed his mind due to the heavy deployment of security personnel around the Matazu axis.

According to him, releasing her under such circumstances would have allowed security agencies to claim responsibility for her freedom.

“I had promised the General that I would release his wife, but the heavy presence of security personnel made me change my mind. If I had released her, they would have taken her to the Matazu Police Station and claimed that she was rescued by security operatives,” he said.

Kachalla also expressed anger over the arrest of individuals allegedly linked to his group, claiming he would have killed the retired general if his parents had been among those detained.

“You know that even if they deploy 1,000 soldiers, they will not be able to locate the General. If my mother or father had been among those arrested, I swear to God I would have killed the General today to show the government that it cannot intimidate us.

“If the negotiations are genuine, then the security personnel deployed around the area should be withdrawn,” he said.

The bandit leader reportedly reiterated demands for the release of three associates and the return of livestock allegedly seized during security operations.

He promised to vacate the area and suspend hostilities if the demands were met.

Kachalla further claimed that he had honoured an earlier truce with authorities and accused government officials of violating the agreement.

Katsina govt optimistic about rescue

Meanwhile, the Katsina State Government has expressed optimism that ongoing security operations will lead to the rescue of the retired general and his wife.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Dr Bala Salisu Zango, said coordinated efforts involving security agencies and intelligence networks had reached an advanced stage.

According to the statement, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda immediately directed relevant security agencies to prioritise efforts aimed at securing the safe rescue of the couple and other victims in captivity.

The government said preliminary investigations indicated that the abductors deliberately targeted the retired general and his wife, allegedly tracking their movement from Kaduna before carrying out the attack.

It said the circumstances surrounding the abduction point to the involvement of an organised criminal network and reflect a disturbing shift in the tactics employed by armed groups operating in the North-West.

“The precision of the abduction indicates that this was a targeted operation, which changes the dynamics of our response. The state is working round the clock, utilising both technology and ground intelligence to track the abductors.

“Our primary goal remains the safe return of the General, his wife and others facing similar circumstances,” the statement said.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that those responsible are apprehended and prosecuted, while urging the family and the public to remain calm and hopeful as efforts to secure the victims’ release continue. (Daily Trust, but headline reworked)

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