ISYAKA Rabe, son of the late retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who died while in bandits’ captivity, has dismissed claims that his father’s death was caused by complications arising from diabetes or hypertension.
Speaking in an interview with Deutsche Welle Hausa on Sunday monitored by News Point Nigeria, Isyaka described reports linking his father’s death to diabetes-related complications as inaccurate, insisting that the family does not believe such health conditions were responsible for the retired military officer’s demise.
His remarks come days after the Katsina State Government announced that the retired general died while in captivity and attributed his death to complications associated with diabetes and high blood pressure.
However, Isyaka strongly disagreed with that account, maintaining that his father neither suffered from diabetes nor hypertension before his abduction.
“Our father was not diabetic and did not suffer from hypertension. People have different opinions about what happened,” he said.
According to him, while the exact cause of death remains unclear, the family believes a snakebite may have been responsible. He added that others have suggested the retired general might have stepped on a harmful object while in captivity.
“We believe it was most likely due to a snakebite, while others think he might have stepped on something. From the video, you could see his leg was swollen, but only God knows the true cause of his death,” he stated.
Isyaka noted that speculation about a possible snakebite emerged after a video allegedly released by the abductors surfaced online. Nevertheless, he stressed that no one can state with certainty what led to his father’s death, insisting that the true cause remains unknown.
Reflecting on his father’s life, he described the late retired general as a devout, humble and peace-loving man who lived modestly and ultimately died a hero.
The family, he said, also remains uncertain about how the deceased’s body was recovered from captivity. According to him, he had no direct knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the retrieval of the remains.
“When I announced the funeral prayer, many people asked how the body was recovered. I told them I didn’t know and that such questions should be directed to the government,” he said.
Isyaka also used the opportunity to debunk reports circulating on social media that his mother, who was abducted alongside his father, had regained her freedom.
“Anyone saying my mother has been released is not telling the truth. As I speak, she is still in their custody,” he said, dismissing the claims as false.
The late retired major general and his wife were abducted in May while travelling through Katsina State. A video later emerged showing the couple in captivity as their abductors made demands and appealed for intervention.
The retired officer subsequently died while in captivity, a development later confirmed by the military high command and the Katsina State Government.
Following news of his death, the Defence Headquarters vowed to intensify ongoing military operations against terrorist and bandit groups responsible for violent attacks across the country, reaffirming its commitment to tackling insecurity.
Major General Rabe Abubakar was laid to rest on Sunday in Katsina State amid widespread grief and renewed calls for stronger action against banditry, as well as urgent efforts to secure the release of his wife, who remains in captivity.