Retired Nigerian General Rabe Abubakar Dies After Kidnapping

Sat Jun 13 2026 19:17:17 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Retired Nigerian Major General Rabe Abubakar was kidnapped in Katsina state in May. He has died in captivity, underscoring the region’s ongoing security crisis.

A former Nigerian army chief, Maj. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, was abducted with his wife while travelling to a wedding in Katsina state. The military confirmed that he died while in captivity, a development that highlights the persistent threats from armed groups in the north‑west. No organisation has claimed the kidnapping, and the circumstances of his wife’s fate remain unclear. The incident underscores the ongoing security challenges in a region plagued by banditry, cattle rustling and jihadist activity.

Retired Nigerian General Rabe Abubakar Dies After Kidnapping

By Abayomi Adisa, BBC Africa, Lagos | 13 June 2026, 15:25 UTC

AFP via Getty Images

A retired Nigerian army general, Maj. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, was abducted by gunmen in the north‑west of Nigeria and has now died while in captivity, the military confirmed on Saturday.

Abubakar served as spokesperson for the armed forces between 2015 and 2017 and was travelling to a wedding in Katsina state when armed men seized him, his wife and their driver.

No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, leaving the motive and perpetrators still unknown.

The incident occurs amid a broader wave of security threats in the region, where “bandit” gangs routinely carry out kidnappings for ransom, cattle rustling, and attacks on rural communities, and alongside sporadic militant jihadist activity.

A video shared on social media days before the announcement showed Abubakar with an apparent injury to his left leg, surrounded by his wife and other hostages.

The military said it had chosen not to comment publicly on the abduction while it carried out rescue operations, noting that all operational resources were deployed to secure his safe return.

Abubakar’s wife’s whereabouts and condition are still unknown. The armed forces announced that operations would be intensified to bring the perpetrators to justice and dismantle terrorist networks in the area.

The military paid tribute to the former major general—reported to be 61 at the time of his death—describing the loss as “tragic” and offering condolences to his family and former colleagues.

In its statement, the army highlighted Abubakar’s “immense contributions to counter‑insurgency operations” and noted his “commitment to duty and the unity of Nigeria remains a shining example for all personnel.”