ABUJA — The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has intensified efforts to secure the release of former Director of Defence Information, retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, and his wife, who were abducted by suspected bandits in Katsina State.
A senior military officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed on Monday that intelligence and operational assets had been deployed to track down the kidnappers and rescue the victims.
“We are working round the clock to rescue him,” the officer said, declining to provide further details due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing operation.
Major General Abubakar and his wife were reportedly kidnapped on Saturday along the Katsina–Matazu Road in Matazu Local Government Area while travelling from Abuja to Katsina State for the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
According to reports, armed men intercepted their vehicle and whisked the couple away to an unknown destination. Their driver, identified as Abdullahi Sa’id, sustained a gunshot wound during the attack but survived.
Confirming the incident, the Katsina State Police Command said the attack occurred at about 11 a.m. on May 30.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, the command said suspected armed bandits attacked a red Peugeot 406 saloon car along the Karaduwa-Matazu Road.
“The driver, one Abdullahi Sa’id, sustained a gunshot injury to his right arm, while two occupants were abducted before security operatives arrived at the scene,” the statement said.
The police added that officers from the Matazu Divisional Police Headquarters, accompanied by members of the command’s anti-kidnapping unit, swiftly responded to the distress call, secured the area and evacuated the injured driver for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar Fage, has visited the scene of the incident and ordered the deployment of additional personnel and operational assets to support ongoing search-and-rescue efforts.
Security agencies have also launched a coordinated operation aimed at rescuing the victims unharmed and apprehending those responsible for the abduction.
The kidnapping of the retired senior military officer has sparked concern across the country and underscores the persistent security challenges facing parts of northern Nigeria despite ongoing counter-banditry operations by security forces.
Major General Abubakar served as Director of Defence Information and was a prominent voice in military communications during his years in service. His abduction has renewed calls for intensified measures to curb banditry and kidnapping across the country.
