Retired Nigerian General Dies After Extended Kidnapping

Sat Jun 13 2026 18:22:07 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Major General Rabe Abubakar was dead in captivity following a south‑western Nigerian abduction that underlined the region’s ongoing bandit violence.

Major General Rabe Abubakar (61) was kidnapped in Katsina state last month and later died in captivity. The military cited a likely fatal injury seen in a social‑media video. No group claimed responsibility. His abduction highlights the persistent threat of bandit gangs and jihadist cells in north‑west Nigeria, where reprisals and ransom raids are common. While the wife’s fate remains uncertain, Nigerian forces are intensifying operations to secure a safe return and dismantle militant networks.

Retired Nigerian General Dies After Extended Kidnapping

Major General Rabe Abubakar, 61, was abducted by armed men while traveling in Katsina state last month and has since died in captivity, the Nigerian military said.

Abubakar served as the army’s spokesperson between 2015 and 2017. A video posted on social media days before the death showed the general with an apparent injury to his left leg, suggesting he was seriously wounded before his death.

The kidnapping occurred as the retired officer and his wife were traveling to a wedding. The vehicle was ambushed, and both were seized along with their driver. No armed group has claimed responsibility.

Abubakar’s case highlights the continuing security challenges affecting north‑west Nigeria, where “bandits” frequently conduct kidnappings for ransom, cattle rustling and attacks on rural settlements. The region also hosts jihadist cells; a U.S. airstrike targeted a militant camp in Sokoto state in December of last year.

Details of Abubakar’s wife’s whereabouts are still unknown, and the military remains silent on the capture of hostages. The armed forces emphasized that rescue operations were ongoing, while promising heightened operations to bring perpetrators to justice and dismantle terrorist networks.

In a statement, the Nigerian ministry of defence described Abubakar’s death as a “tragic loss” and lauded his “immense contributions to counter‑insurgency operations.” The ministry offered condolences to his family and former colleagues.

Major General Rabe Abubakar
AFP via Getty Images