SUSPECTED armed bandits have abducted former Director of Defence Information, Rabe Abubakar, and his wife in Katsina State, in what security sources described as a daring attack along a major route in the state.
News Point Nigeria gathered that the retired senior military officer and his wife were travelling through Matazu Local Government Area on Saturday morning when their vehicle was ambushed by heavily armed gunmen.
A security source familiar with the incident disclosed that the attackers intercepted the couple’s vehicle and whisked them away to an unknown destination.
According to the source, the driver of the vehicle managed to escape despite sustaining a gunshot wound during the attack.
“The former Director of Defence Information and his wife were travelling in a red Peugeot 406 saloon car when they were waylaid by armed men along the route. The driver escaped with gunshot injuries and is currently receiving medical attention,” the source said.
The source further disclosed that relevant security agencies had been alerted and that coordinated efforts were already underway to secure the safe rescue of the victims.
“Security forces have already activated search-and-rescue operations, while intelligence assets have been deployed to track the abductors and ensure the victims’ safe return,” the source added.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from military authorities and other security agencies were still ongoing as of the time of filing this report.
The abduction has heightened concerns over the persistent security challenges confronting parts of Katsina State despite sustained military operations targeting criminal groups across the North-West region.
The incident also brings back memories of previous attacks involving military and security personnel in the state. In recent years, several serving and retired security officers have either been targeted by bandits or fallen victim to kidnappings and ambushes along major highways connecting Katsina with neighbouring states.
News Point Nigeria reports that criminal groups operating across the region increasingly view high-profile individuals, including military officers, as lucrative targets for abduction.
Major General Abubakar, who served as Director of Defence Information, was one of the Nigerian military’s most prominent spokespersons and played a significant role in communicating the Armed Forces’ counterinsurgency efforts and national security operations during his years in service.
