Bandits Hold Ex-General’s Widow After Husband Dies In Captivity

Hajiya Amina Abubakar, widow of the late Major General Abubakar Rabe (retd.), is reportedly still being held by bandits.

Naija News understands that Amina was abducted alongside her husband on May 30, 2026, when their vehicle was ambushed along the Marabar Musawa, Kafinsoli road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Rabe, a retired senior military officer, later died in captivity, according to the Katsina State Government.

Before his death was announced, Rabe was seen in a video circulated on social media, where he and his wife relayed the demands of their abductors.

In the four-minute two-second video, the couple were seen standing as the bandits demanded the release of some detained members of their group and the return of seized livestock.

Speaking in the video, Amina said the abductors wanted three persons identified as Sani, Aminu and Nasiru released.

According to her, two of the detained persons were arrested in Jikamshi, while the third was arrested in Kano.

She appealed to the Katsina State Government and the leaders of five local government areas to meet the demands in order to secure their freedom.

In a statement on Saturday, the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Mu’azu, confirmed the death of Rabe.

Mu’azu said the retired general died from complications linked to diabetes and hypertension while in captivity.

“The Katsina State Government, with a heavy heart and deep sense of loss, wishes to inform the general public of the tragic passing of Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar,” the statement read.

The commissioner did not announce the release of the widow, raising further concern over her safety.

Security sources, according to Daily Trust, said efforts were still ongoing to rescue her, but declined to give details or provide a timeline for the operation.

Earlier in the week, a bandit kingpin, Kachalla Muhammad, said he failed to release the widow as earlier promised because he did not want security agencies to take credit for her release.

In an audio message, Kachalla said he suspended the plan after noticing heavy deployment of security personnel in the area.

The bandit leader said he had initially indicated readiness to release the retired general’s widow but changed his mind because of ongoing security operations.

He said, “I had promised the General that I would release his wife, but the deployment of security personnel in the area made me change my mind.”

Kachalla also expressed anger over the arrest of some persons he claimed were linked to his group.

He warned that the arrests had complicated efforts toward any possible dialogue.

The bandit leader further demanded the release of three persons allegedly in government custody and the return of cattle reportedly seized during security operations in the Jikamshi area.

According to him, meeting the demands could open the way for peace and end attacks in the area.