Retired Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) former Director of Defence Information, Major General Rabe Abubakar (retd.), and his wife have been abducted along the Matazu axis of Katsina State. Reports of their kidnapping by armed men emerged after they were intercepted while travelling through the Matazu Local Government Area.

A video has since surfaced, providing the first visual confirmation of their captivity. In the footage, circulating on social media and within security circles, the retired senior military officer and his wife appear under apparent duress, pleading for mercy and appealing for their immediate release. The abductors reportedly positioned the couple in an undisclosed forest location, where they were filmed surrounded by armed men. Their driver reportedly escaped the attack with gunshot injuries, and their vehicle was later recovered and taken to a local police division.

Security sources suggest the kidnappers are utilizing the video as a negotiation tactic. Claims circulating within local security networks indicate that a notorious bandit kingpin, identified as “Kachalla Maha,” is involved in ongoing discussions. The abductors are allegedly demanding a prisoner exchange, specifically the release of three of their associates—identified as Aminu, Sani, and Nasiru—who are currently in custody. Two of these individuals were reportedly arrested in Jikamshi, while the third was apprehended in Kano State.

In the fresh video, Major General Rabe Abubakar’s wife made a direct appeal to government authorities, community leaders, and traditional rulers for intervention. Speaking in Hausa, she urged Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda, district heads, and traditional rulers of Matazu, Musawa, Kankia, Kurfi, and Dutsin-Ma, along with the five local government chairmen, to help secure their freedom. She emphasized that the abductors have "genuine grievances" and are insisting on the return of their allegedly seized property, including 300 cows and sheep, in addition to the release of the detained individuals.

This incident underscores the persistent challenge of banditry in northwestern Nigeria, with Katsina State remaining an epicentre for mass kidnappings, ransom negotiations, and armed attacks on highways and rural communities. The video has intensified concerns over the safety of high-profile abductees and raised renewed questions about the operational capabilities of armed groups operating across the region's forest corridors.

As of the time of reporting, neither the Nigerian military nor the Katsina State Police Command has issued an updated official statement regarding the release of the video, the ongoing negotiations, or the condition of the abducted retired general and his wife.