By Abu Adamu
The rescue of Hajiya Amina Abubakar, wife of the late retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, has brought a measure of relief to family members and residents of Katsina State, but fresh questions continue to surround the circumstances under which the retired military officer’s body was recovered after his death in captivity.
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA rescued Mrs. Abubakar following a fierce encounter with armed bandits in Matazu Local Government Area during ongoing search-and-rescue operations launched after the abduction of the couple.
Military sources said troops engaged the kidnappers at Tunga village under Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, forcing the criminals to abandon their captive and flee under sustained military pressure.
According to the sources, the bandits shot Mrs. Abubakar before escaping.
“She was rescued with gunshot wounds. Troops administered first aid and immediately evacuated her for urgent medical treatment,” a source familiar with the operation disclosed.
The military has since intensified offensive operations across Matazu and neighbouring communities in a bid to track down the fleeing kidnappers and dismantle their hideouts.
Mrs. Abubakar’s rescue comes weeks after the Katsina State Government announced the death of her husband while in captivity, attributing it to health complications.
However, the circumstances surrounding the recovery of the retired general’s remains remain shrouded in controversy.
While initial reports suggested that arrangements were made for the retrieval of the body after communication with the kidnappers, residents and local sources in the area insist the remains were discovered by villagers after being abandoned by the abductors near Karaduwa.
According to accounts from the community, locals stumbled upon the body in an isolated area and alerted security authorities, who later moved in to identify the remains and transport them to Katsina under military escort.
The differing narratives have continued to fuel speculation over the exact sequence of events that led to the recovery of the former senior military officer’s body.
Family members have also challenged the official explanation for his death, rejecting claims that he suffered from diabetes and hypertension and insisting he had no known history of either ailment.
The abduction of retired Major General Abubakar and his wife, Hajiya Amina, on 30 May 2026, along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State sparked nationwide outrage, given the former military chief’s distinguished service record and status as a retired senior officer. The incident underscored growing concerns over insecurity in the country and the vulnerability of even high-profile citizens to bandit attacks.
Days before news of his death emerged, the couple appeared in a video released by their captors, pleading for intervention to secure their freedom. In the footage, Hajiya Amina appealed to the Katsina State Government and leaders of several local government areas to facilitate the release of three individuals allegedly being held in custody, while the kidnappers also demanded the return of cattle reportedly seized during security operations.
The controversy deepened after the Katsina State Government announced that the retired general had died in captivity, attributing his death to complications arising from diabetes and hypertension. The explanation was immediately challenged by members of his family, who insisted that the late officer had no known history of either ailment and questioned the basis of the official claim.
Family members, including one of his sons, Isyaka Rabe, and his daughter, Adda Abubakar, suggested that the former general may instead have died from a snake bite while in captivity. They cited details allegedly observed in the final video released by the abductors and maintained that there was no medical evidence linking his death to diabetes or hypertension. The family also disclosed that they had not been informed about the circumstances under which his body was recovered.
Adding to the uncertainty, conflicting accounts emerged regarding both the cause of death and the recovery of the retired general’s remains, while Hajiya Amina was still believed to be in captivity despite reports of a possible release. A notorious bandit leader had reportedly claimed he intended to free her but changed his mind because of intensified security operations, further fuelling public scrutiny of the tragedy and raising questions about the handling of the case by authorities.