Former Nigeria Military Chief and Wife Abducted in Katsina

In a troubling incident that underscores the escalating insecurity in Nigeria, retired Major General Rabe Abubakar and his wife have fallen victim to armed kidnappers in Katsina state, according to military sources.

Abubakar, who previously served as a military spokesperson, was taken on Saturday while en route to a wedding. Reports indicate that his driver managed to escape, albeit with injuries. Authorities have launched operations to secure the couple’s release, as armed banditry continues to plague the region, where such kidnappings, cattle rustling, and assaults on rural communities have become alarmingly common.

This incident follows closely on the heels of a separate attack in Katsina that resulted in the deaths of at least 16 individuals, highlighting a grim reality where violence persists despite government initiatives aimed at reducing abductions and discouraging ransom demands.