Bandits Kidnap Former Defence Spokesman, Wife in Katsina Highway Ambush

Suspected armed bandits have abducted former Director of Defence Information, Major General Rabe Abubakar (retd.

), alongside his wife in Katsina State, raising fresh concerns over the persistent security challenges facing Nigeria’s North-West region.
Sources revealed that the retired senior military officer and his wife were travelling through Matazu Local Government Area on Saturday morning when heavily armed gunmen attacked their vehicle.
Security sources familiar with the incident disclosed that the assailants intercepted the couple’s vehicle before taking them to an undisclosed location.
The driver of the vehicle reportedly escaped despite sustaining gunshot injuries during the attack.
“The former Director of Defence Information and his wife were travelling in a red Peugeot 504 saloon car when armed men ambushed them along the route. The driver managed to escape with gunshot wounds and is currently receiving medical treatment,” a security source said.
The source further stated that security agencies have commenced a coordinated search-and-rescue operation to secure the safe release of the victims.
“Security forces have activated rescue operations, while intelligence assets have been deployed to track the abductors and facilitate the victims’ safe return,” the source added.
As of the time of filing this report, military authorities and relevant security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The abduction has once again drawn attention to the security situation in Katsina State despite ongoing military operations targeting bandit groups across the North-West.
Security analysts note that criminal gangs operating in the region have increasingly targeted high-profile individuals, including serving and retired military personnel, for kidnapping and ransom-related activities.
Major General Abubakar previously served as Director of Defence Information and was one of the military’s prominent spokespersons.
The latest incident is expected to intensify calls for enhanced security measures along major highways and within vulnerable rural communities across Katsina State, where residents continue to face threats from banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.