We’re Working to Rescue Kidnapped Retired Major Gen Abubakar — Defence HQ

Defence Headquarters has assured Nigerians that efforts are underway to secure the safe release of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar and his wife following their abduction by suspected bandits in Katsina State.

The former Director of Defence Information and his wife were reportedly kidnapped on Saturday along the Katsina–Matazu Road in Matazu Local Government Area while travelling from Abuja for the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

A senior military officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that intelligence and operational assets had been deployed to facilitate the victims’ rescue. The officer, however, declined to reveal details of the ongoing operation, citing security reasons.

“We are working round the clock to rescue him,” the officer stated.

The incident has prompted intensified security efforts in the area. Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in Katsina State, Ali Umar Fage, visited the scene of the attack and ordered the deployment of additional personnel and operational resources to strengthen search-and-rescue operations.

In a statement, the Katsina State Police Command said suspected armed bandits attacked a red Peugeot 406 vehicle along the Karaduwa–Matazu Road at about 11 a.m. on May 30, 2026.

According to the statement signed by police spokesperson Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, the vehicle’s driver, Abdullahi Sa’id, sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm during the attack.

The police added that two occupants of the vehicle were abducted before security operatives arrived at the scene. Officers from the Matazu Divisional Police Headquarters and the Victims and Community Response Unit responded swiftly, secured the area and evacuated the injured driver for medical treatment.

Reports indicate that the retired military officer and his wife were taken to an unknown destination after armed men intercepted their vehicle. The driver reportedly escaped despite sustaining injuries from gunfire.

Major General Abubakar played a significant role in military communications during his service as spokesperson for the Nigerian Armed Forces.

The latest incident underscores the persistent security challenges confronting parts of northern Nigeria despite ongoing military and law enforcement operations against armed criminal groups. Authorities say efforts to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators remain ongoing.