Written by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
For a man who spent his life in the vanguard of Nigeria’s defense, the end was tragically ironic. Maj.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar (rtd.), a former Director of Defence Information who once stood before microphones to project the strength of the nation’s military, has died in the cruel captivity of bandits.
His passing marks a devastating new low in the country’s ongoing battle with insecurity—a grim reminder that no one is spared from the scourge of terror that haunts the land.
Gen. Abubakar’s harrowing ordeal began approximately three weeks ago when he was abducted alongside his wife. For 21 agonizing days, his family and the nation waited for a miracle. That miracle, however, never came. On Saturday, the Katsina State Government confirmed the unthinkable: the retired general had breathed his last while still in the hands of his abductors.
According to Dr. Nasiru Mu’azu, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, the general’s death was not caused by the physical assault of his captors, but by the devastating toll of captivity on his health. Complications arising from diabetes and hypertension claimed his life, robbing him of the dignity of dying among his loved ones.
"We are profoundly saddened to confirm the death of retired Maj.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar while in the hands of bandits," Mu’azu stated, his words heavy with grief. "Despite the relentless and coordinated efforts of the state government and security agencies to ensure his safe return, this situation has ended in tragedy."
The loss has sent shockwaves through the corridors of power and the streets alike. For Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, the general’s death is not just a statistic in the fight against terror; it is a deeply personal and national tragedy. Describing the incident as a "dark moment," the governor mourned a man who dedicated his life to the service of his fatherland.
Beyond the grief, however, is a simmering anger and a renewed call to arms—figuratively and literally—against the criminal elements turning the nation's forests into slaughterhouses.
"The governor extends his deepest sympathies to the family of the late general and to the nation," Mu’azu conveyed on behalf of Radda. "He characterized this incident as a dark moment and a reminder of the necessity for collective action in addressing the issues of banditry and other security challenges."
Gen. Abubakar’s death shatters the illusion of safety for many. If a retired Major-General, a man deeply familiar with the mechanics of warfare and security, can be snatched from his life and left to die of preventable health complications in a forest, the vulnerability of the common citizen is staggering.
However, in the face of this darkness, the state government has drawn a line in the sand. Mu’azu reiterated an uncompromising commitment to partner with the Federal Government and security agencies to hunt down the perpetrators of this heinous crime. "Those responsible for this crime will be brought to justice," he vowed, offering a sliver of resolve to a grieving public.
As the sun sets on the life of Maj.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, a hero of the nation is laid to rest not on a bed of honors, but as a casualty of a ruthless insurgency. The prayers of the commissioner and the people now accompany him to his final resting place. But beyond the prayers, his blood demands more than tears—it demands the collective, intensified action that Governor Radda spoke of.
Until the forests are cleared of the shadows that took the general, no home, and no life in Nigeria, can truly be called secure.
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