Those Who Once Defended Nigeria Can No Longer Be Protected—Atiku Reacts To Death Of Ex-Army Spokesperson 

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the death of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe while in the custody of bandits, describing the incident as a stark reflection of Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, Atiku said the tragic death of the former military officer highlighted the inability of the government to guarantee the safety of its citizens, including those who once dedicated their lives to defending the nation.

The former Vice President lamented that a man who spent decades serving in the Nigerian military and protecting the country ultimately died at the hands of criminal elements, calling the development both painful and unacceptable.

“It is with profound sadness and deep anger that we mourn the death of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe, a distinguished former Army spokesperson and Director of Defence Information, who tragically passed away while in the captivity of bandits,” Atiku said.

“General Rabe devoted the better part of his life to defending Nigeria. He served this country with honour, courage and distinction. That such a man could end up dying in the hands of criminals is both heartbreaking and unacceptable.”

Rabe was abducted alongside his wife on May 30, 2026, in Katsina State. While reports indicate that the retired general died in captivity after complications arising from diabetes and hypertension, his wife is said to remain in the custody of the kidnappers.

Reacting to the development, Atiku argued that the incident was not merely a personal tragedy but a disturbing indication of the growing influence of criminal groups across the country.

According to him, the death of the retired general exposed serious shortcomings in Nigeria’s security architecture and demonstrated that no citizen, regardless of status, service record or contribution to national development, could feel truly safe.

“His death marks yet another painful blow to our nation’s security architecture and a chilling reminder of the vulnerability of even our most experienced military leaders in the face of rampant banditry and terrorism,” he said.

“General Rabe’s ordeal is not an isolated case. In recent times, other senior military officers and distinguished Nigerians have either been killed or subjected to similar traumatic experiences at the hands of criminal gangs.

“The message being sent is dangerous: that those who once defended the nation can no longer rely on the nation for protection.”

Atiku also linked the retired general’s death to renewed terrorist activity in Chibok, Borno State, warning that the country appeared to be reliving some of the darkest moments in its recent history.

He noted that on the same day Nigerians were mourning Rabe’s death, terrorists reportedly attacked Kautikari community in Chibok Local Government Area, setting educational facilities ablaze.

“As Nigerians mourned the passing of a retired Major General in the captivity of bandits, terrorists were simultaneously attacking the Kautikari community in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State and setting primary and secondary school facilities ablaze,” he said.

The former Vice President described Chibok as a painful symbol of Nigeria’s struggle against terrorism, recalling the 2014 abduction of more than 270 schoolgirls by Boko Haram insurgents.

“Chibok is not just a location; it is a national scar. Since the abduction of more than 270 schoolgirls in April 2014, the name has become a symbol of pain, loss and collective trauma,” he stated.

“Twelve years later, many families have still not fully recovered from the emotional devastation of that tragedy.

“Yet, on the very day a retired Major General died in the captivity of bandits, terrorists returned to the Chibok axis to burn schools.

“It was as though Nigeria was being dragged back into one of the darkest chapters of its history. The flames that consumed those school buildings also reignited painful memories that Nigerians have spent more than a decade trying to overcome.”

Atiku said the significance of the twin incidents extended beyond the immediate destruction and loss, arguing that they represented a broader failure to secure lives and communities across the country.

“The tragedy is not merely that schools were burnt; it is that a wound that never truly healed has been torn open once again,” he said.

He further maintained that the death of a retired military officer in captivity, coupled with the resurgence of attacks on schools in the North-East, underscored the urgent need for a more effective response to the country’s security challenges.

“The symbolism is devastating. A retired General who spent his life fighting for the security of Nigeria dies in the hands of criminals, while terrorists return to one of their most notorious trademarks, attacking schools and terrorising communities in Borno State,” Atiku said.

The former Vice President stressed that the latest developments should serve as a wake-up call for the government to adopt stronger and more decisive measures to tackle banditry, terrorism and other forms of violent crime threatening national stability.