Abductors Of Ex-Defence Spokesman, Wife Makes Demands

A retired Major General, Abubakar Rabe, and his wife, who were abducted along the Karaduwa-Matazu Road in Katsina State a week ago, have appealed to the government to help secure their release.

Naija News reports that their abductors released a video showing the couple in captivity.

In the four-minute, two-second video circulated on social media, the couple were seen standing and relaying their captors’ demands.

Speaking in the video, the wife of the retired army general said the abductors were demanding the release of three of their members identified as Sani, Aminu and Nasiru.

She also said the abductors demanded the return of livestock allegedly seized from them.

According to her, two of the detained persons were arrested in Jikamshi, while the third was arrested in Kano.

She appealed to the Katsina State Government and leaders of five local government areas to meet the demands so they could regain freedom.

The retired army general also spoke briefly in the video. He called for efforts to ensure peace, saying the abductors had expressed interest in dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

No 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 on the video.

Rabe was reportedly travelling to Katsina with his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, and their driver, Abdullahi Sa’idu, when their vehicle was ambushed.

The attack occurred along the Marabar Musawa-Kafinsoli road in Matazu Local Government Area, near Zakin Baure village.

Witnesses said armed men emerged from hiding, blocked the road and opened fire on the vehicle, forcing it to stop.

Sources said the driver was shot in the hand during the attack but was later spared by the gunmen.

Notorious bandit leader, Kachallah Muhammad, had reportedly opened communication with relatives of the victims.

Sources who spoke with Daily Trust said the bandit kingpin, who operates in parts of Katsina State, contacted the retired general’s family on Monday morning.