A video showing retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, former Director of Defence Information, and his wife in captivity has emerged online, with their abductors outlining a series of demands they want met before the couple is released.
The retired military officer and his wife were abducted along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, near Zakin Baure village.
In the four-minute video circulating on social media, the wife of the former defence spokesman conveyed the demands of the kidnappers, including the release of three individuals identified as Sani, Aminu and Nasiru. The abductors also demanded the return of livestock they claimed had been seized from them.
According to her, two of the individuals were arrested in Jikamshi, while the third was apprehended in Kano.
She appealed to the Katsina State Government as well as leaders across five local government areas to assist in meeting the demands and securing their freedom.
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Speaking briefly in the footage, Abubakar called for efforts aimed at restoring peace, stating that the abductors had indicated a willingness to embrace dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that a notorious bandit leader, Kachallah Muhammad, who operates in parts of Katsina State, has established communication with the family of the retired general.
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 made by the abductors.
The development has drawn renewed attention to the security challenges facing parts of Katsina State and the wider North-West region, where incidents of kidnapping and banditry remain a major concern.