Bandits holding retired Major General Abubakar Rabe and his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, have demanded the release of three suspected associates and the return of livestock allegedly seized from them as conditions for securing the couple’s freedom.
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The demands were contained in a video released by the abductors and circulated on social media exactly one week after the couple was kidnapped along the Karaduwa–Matazu Road in Katsina State.
In the 3-minute, fifty-eight seconds video obtained by this reporter, the retired army officer and his wife were seen standing in captivity while conveying the conditions set by their captors.
Speaking in the video, Hajiya Amina said the abductors were demanding the release of three individuals identified as Sani, Aminu and Nasiru. According to her, two of the suspects were arrested in Jikamshi, while the third was arrested in Kano State.
She also said the abductors were seeking the return of livestock allegedly confiscated from them and appealed to the Katsina State Government as well as leaders of five local government areas to facilitate compliance with the demands to secure their release.
The retired major general, who spoke briefly in the footage, called for efforts aimed at restoring peace, stating that the gunmen had expressed a willingness to embrace dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
Notably, no monetary ransom demand was mentioned in the video, with the abductors focusing instead on the release of the three suspects and the recovery of the livestock.
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As of the time of filing this report, neither the Katsina State Government nor security agencies had issued an official statement regarding the video or the demands made by the kidnappers.
Major General Rabe was reportedly travelling to Katsina alongside his wife and their driver, Abdullahi Sa’idu, on Saturday when their vehicle came under attack along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area.
The ambush occurred near Zakin Baure village, where armed men believed to be bandits reportedly emerged from hiding, blocked the road and opened fire on the vehicle, forcing it to stop.
Sources familiar with the incident said the driver sustained a gunshot wound to his hand during the attack but was later spared by the assailants.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that a notorious bandit leader known as Kachallah Muhammad has established contact with relatives of the victims. Sources said the bandit kingpin, who is believed to operate in parts of Katsina State, opened communication with the family on Monday, days after the abduction.
The latest development has heightened concerns over insecurity in the state and renewed calls for intensified efforts to secure the release of the retired military officer and his wife.
