A retired senior Nigerian military officer and his wife have been kidnapped by armed men in north-west Nigeria, the army has confirmed.
Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar, who served as military spokesman between 2015 and 2017, was abducted from his vehicle on Saturday while travelling through Katsina state. Military spokesman Gen Michael Onoja told reporters that efforts are underway to rescue the couple and track down their captors, adding that the army is still waiting for the kidnappers to make contact with the family.
Local reports indicate that Abubakar was travelling to Katsina to attend a wedding when gunmen attacked his vehicle. His driver reportedly escaped despite being struck by gunfire, while the retired general and his wife were taken by the attackers into a nearby forested area. No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction.
The kidnapping underscores the persistent security crisis gripping parts of north-west Nigeria, where criminal gangs known locally as bandits regularly carry out kidnappings for ransom, cattle rustling, and attacks on rural communities. Some militant jihadists have also operated in the region. An alleged militant camp in neighbouring Sokoto state was the target of a U.S. airstrike on December 25 last year.
Katsina has been among the states hardest hit by the violence. Zamfara state, which borders both Katsina and Sokoto, has endured years of similar instability. Efforts by some communities to negotiate peace with armed groups have largely failed to produce lasting results.
The abduction comes just one day after another deadly attack in the same state. On Friday, armed men raided Kiliya village in Dutsinma Local Government Area, killing at least 16 people shortly after Friday prayers as residents gathered to mark the Eid al-Adha holiday. Police have not yet commented on the reported killings.
Security agencies had issued warnings ahead of the Eid celebrations about the possibility of attacks, prompting several state governments to restrict large public gatherings and strengthen security measures. The warnings proved insufficient to prevent the violence.
