Abducted Retired Army General, Wife Appeal for Rescue in Video Released by Kidnappers

A retired Nigerian Army officer, Major General Abubakar Rabe (rtd), and his wife have appealed to government authorities to secure their release after a video showing the couple in captivity surfaced online.

The four-minute video, reportedly released by their abductors, emerged one week after the retired military officer, his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, and their driver were kidnapped along the Karaduwa–Matazu Road in Katsina State.

In the footage, the couple appeared standing while conveying demands allegedly made by their captors.

Speaking in the video, the general’s wife said the abductors were requesting the release of three individuals identified as Sani, Aminu, and Nasiru, whom they claimed were being held by authorities.

She also stated that the kidnappers were demanding the return of livestock allegedly seized from them.

According to her account, two of the individuals were arrested in Jikamshi, while the third was arrested in Kano State.

The woman appealed to the Katsina State Government and traditional and community leaders in five local government areas to intervene and facilitate compliance with the demands in order to secure their freedom.

Major General Rabe, who spoke briefly in the video, called for efforts aimed at restoring peace, saying the abductors had expressed willingness to engage in dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

No monetary ransom demand was mentioned in the video.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Katsina State Government nor security agencies had issued an official statement regarding the video or the demands presented by the kidnappers.

The retired general was reportedly travelling to Katsina alongside his wife and their driver, Abdullahi Sa’idu, when gunmen ambushed their vehicle on the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area of the state.

The attack occurred near Zakin Baure village, where armed men suspected to be bandits allegedly emerged from hiding, blocked the road, and opened fire on the vehicle, forcing it to stop.

Sources familiar with the incident said the driver sustained a gunshot wound to his hand during the attack but was later spared by the assailants.

Reports have also indicated that a notorious bandit leader, identified as Kachallah Muhammad, has reportedly established communication with relatives of the victims.

According to sources, the suspected bandit leader, who is said to operate in parts of Katsina State, contacted members of the family shortly after the abduction.

The incident has renewed concerns over the persistent security challenges in parts of northwestern Nigeria, where kidnappings for ransom and attacks by armed groups continue to pose significant threats to residents and travellers.