Fresh Details Emerge On Abduction Of Ex-Defence Spokesman, Wife

Fresh details have emerged on how bandits abducted a former Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Rabe Abubakar Batsari (retd.) and his wife in Katsina State on Saturday.

Naija News reports that the retired military officer was reportedly travelling to Katsina with his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, and their driver, Abdullahi Sa’idu, when they were ambushed along the Marabar Musawa-Kafinsoli road in Matazu Local Government Area.

The attack occurred near Zakin Baure village.

Witnesses who spoke with Daily Trust said armed men suspected to be bandits emerged from hiding, blocked the road and opened fire on the vehicle.

The gunmen reportedly forced the vehicle to stop before abducting the retired officer and his wife into a nearby forest.

Sources familiar with the incident said the driver was shot in the hand but was later abandoned by the attackers.

“They shot him in the hand and abandoned him, but took the General and his wife away. He was bleeding seriously but managed to get help and has since been treated,” a source close to the family said.

A witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attack appeared to have been planned.

“The gunmen blocked the road and waited for vehicles. Everything happened very fast. They were many and heavily armed. People around could not intervene because of fear,” he said.

Another source said the attackers had earlier stormed a phone-charging centre in the village, where they carted away mobile phones and power banks.

“They also seized a motorcycle belonging to one of the villagers. After that, they moved to the road, where they encountered a red vehicle and opened fire on it,” the source said.

Security operatives later recovered the victims’ red Peugeot vehicle and moved it to the Matazu Divisional Police Headquarters.

The incident gained attention after villagers posted photographs of the abandoned vehicle on social media.

“Who knows the owner of this car? The occupants were just abducted by bandits along the Matazu road,” the post read.

A retired military officer later reportedly identified the occupants as Batsari and his wife.

Police Confirm Abduction

The Katsina State Police Command confirmed the attack but did not identify the victims as the retired general and his wife.

In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, said the incident occurred around 11 am on Saturday.

He said armed bandits intercepted a red Peugeot 406 saloon car travelling along the Karaduwa-Matazu road.

The statement identified the occupants as Abdullahi Sa’id, the driver who sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm; Abdullahi Batsari; and Amina Abdullahi.

The Commissioner of Police in Katsina State, Ali Umar Fage, visited the scene shortly after the attack.

He ordered the deployment of additional personnel and operational assets to strengthen search-and-rescue operations.

The command said efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted victims unharmed and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Local government authorities also confirmed the incident and expressed concern over insecurity on major and rural roads in the area.

A senior official of Matazu Local Government said consultations had been intensified among security agencies, traditional rulers and community leaders to address the situation.