Armed bandits have abducted retired Major General Rabe Abubakar and his wife along the Matazu axis of Katsina State, in what security observers describe as another troubling sign of the worsening security situation in the North-West.
According to security sources, the retired senior military officer, who once served as Director of Defence Information, was travelling to Katsina for a wedding ceremony on Saturday when gunmen ambushed his vehicle. His driver reportedly escaped despite sustaining gunshot wounds, while the retired General and his wife were taken into a nearby forest by the attackers.
A video circulating on social media showed the victims’ vehicle parked at the Matazu Divisional Police Headquarters. Witnesses reported seeing at least two bullet holes on the red Peugeot 504, indicating that the vehicle came under heavy gunfire during the attack.
The latest incident is the second high-profile kidnapping involving a retired military officer in Katsina State in recent years. In 2025, retired Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga, a former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was abducted and spent 56 days in captivity before regaining his freedom.
The abduction comes amid growing concerns over persistent insecurity in Katsina State despite ongoing military and security operations aimed at restoring peace across affected communities.
Just a day earlier, suspected bandits attacked Kiliya village in Dutsinma Local Government Area, killing at least 16 residents. The attack occurred shortly after Juma’at prayers as villagers gathered to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir festivities.
A resident who witnessed the attack said panic broke out when armed men arrived on motorcycles and ordered villagers not to flee. According to him, the gunmen later moved towards a mechanic’s residence before opening fire indiscriminately on residents and passers-by.
The witness recounted that he narrowly escaped death after taking refuge inside a nearby house. He said that after the attackers left, he emerged to find several bodies lying across the village, including those of relatives and neighbours.
The assault reportedly forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes, with more than 400 villagers seeking refuge in neighbouring Bagagadi and Radda communities. Several people remain missing, raising fears that the casualty figure could increase.
Residents also disclosed that some victims were discovered on nearby farmlands, suggesting that additional casualties may have occurred away from the main attack scene.
The twin incidents have renewed calls for stronger security measures in Katsina State, where communities continue to face recurring attacks, kidnappings, killings and large-scale displacement despite repeated government assurances of improved security.