Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Troops of the Nigerian Army, in coordination with the Nigerian Air Force, alleged that they successfully rescued Hajiya Amina Abubakar, the wife of late Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information who died while in bandit captivity earlier this month. The rescue operation was confirmed in a press release issued on Monday, June 15, 2026, by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba.
It was said by the military that the rescue followed intensified search‑and‑rescue efforts conducted by troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the military task force operating in the North‑West. According to the statement, troops made contact with the bandits at Tunga Village, where sustained offensive operations and mounting pressure on the criminal elements forced the abductors to abandon their captives. During the encounter, the bandits shot Mrs Abubakar before fleeing due to the overwhelming pressure from the advancing troops. She was immediately evacuated and is currently receiving medical attention at a military hospital, where she is responding to treatment. The military leadership has assured the public that all necessary support is being provided to the family during this difficult period.
Major General Rabe Abubakar and his wife were abducted on May 30, 2026, along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. The retired general died in captivity on June 13, 2026, with the Katsina State Government initially attributing his death to complications from diabetes and hypertension. However, his son, Isyaka Rabe, disputed the official account in a DW Hausa interview, insisting his father had no history of diabetes and that the family believed he died as a result of a snakebite or a heart attack while in captivity.
Mrs Abubakar had remained in the custody of the bandits after her husband’s death, and her rescue on Monday ends more than two weeks of uncertainty for her family. The military has said troops will continue ongoing operations to track down and neutralise the perpetrators, while intensifying efforts to rid affected communities of terrorists, not just in Katsina but across the entire nation.
The rescue is a significant operational success for the Armed Forces, coming just days after the launch of Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, a deliberate offensive targeting bandit elements in Matazu Local Government Area and adjoining communities. The operation was triggered by the abduction and subsequent death of the former defence spokesman. Troops have since conducted aggressive fighting patrols, intelligence‑led raids, and clearance missions, destroying terrorist life‑support structures and logistics bases in the Dikkawa Hills general area and surrounding communities.
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