General Rabe’s Son Rejects Diabetes Claim, Says Mother Still Held by Kidnappers

The family of late Major General Rabe Abubakar has disputed claims that he died from complications arising from diabetes and hypertension, insisting that the retired military officer had no known history of either illness.

Speaking in an interview with Deutsche Welle on Sunday, Isyaka Rabe, one of the deceased general’s sons, challenged the account attributed to the Katsina State Government regarding the circumstances surrounding his father’s death while in captivity.

The Katsina State Government had announced on Saturday that the former senior military officer died from complications related to diabetes and high blood pressure after being abducted by bandits alongside his wife.
However, Isyaka said the family does not believe diabetes was responsible for his father’s death.

“I truly don’t believe it was diabetes. In our view, it was a heart attack. If you look at it, his legs were restrained. Moreover, some people said that he was walking, and he didn’t die, so God knows, since only God is the knower,” he said.

He added that there had also been speculation that the retired general may have died from a snake bite, citing reports linked to a video allegedly released by the kidnappers.

Nevertheless, he stressed that the exact cause of death remains uncertain.

“Only God knows the actual cause of his death,” he stated.

Despite the tragic circumstances, Isyaka described his father as a deeply religious and peace-loving man who lived a modest life and ultimately died a hero.

He also revealed that the family remains in the dark over how the late general’s body was recovered.

“When I announced the time for my father’s funeral prayer, many people began asking how the body was recovered. I told them I did not know and that they should direct such questions to the government,” he said.

The family further debunked reports circulating on social media that the late general’s wife had regained freedom.

According to Isyaka, his mother remains in the custody of the kidnappers.
“Whoever says she has been released, I, Isyaka Rabe, son of Major General Rabe, say that is a lie. She has not been released. Right now, she is still in their custody,” he declared.

The abduction of General Abubakar and his wife was announced on May 30, sparking widespread concern across the country.

On June 6, the kidnappers reportedly released a video showing the couple appealing to the Katsina State Government to meet conditions for their release, including the release of three detained fighters and the return of livestock allegedly seized during security operations.

The death of the retired general was confirmed by the Katsina State Government on Saturday, which described the incident as a tragic loss to both the state and the nation.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has since expressed grief over the former military officer’s death, while the Defence Headquarters pledged to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible and tackle criminal groups operating across the country.

The conflicting accounts surrounding the cause of the retired general’s death and the continued captivity of his wife have further heightened public concern over the worsening insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria.