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The abductors of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, and his wife have released a video detailing the conditions they say must be met before the couple can regain their freedom.
The four-minute video, which surfaced on social media on Saturday, showed the former military spokesman and his wife in captivity, with the latter appealing to government authorities and community leaders to intervene on their behalf.
Major General Abubakar served as Director of Defence Information, the media arm of the Defence Headquarters, between 2015 and 2017 before retiring from active military service.
The retired general and his wife were reportedly abducted by suspected bandits while travelling in Katsina State.
According to reports, the gunmen intercepted their vehicle in Matazu Local Government Area and whisked the couple away to an unknown location.
In the video, Mrs. Abubakar conveyed the demands of their captors, stating that the abductors were seeking the release of three individuals identified as Sani, Aminu and Nasiru, whom they claimed were being held by security authorities.
The kidnappers are also demanding the return of livestock, including cows and goats, allegedly seized from them during security operations.
Mrs. Abubakar explained that two of the detained individuals were arrested in Jikamshi, while another was reportedly apprehended in Kano.
Appealing for urgent intervention, she called on relevant authorities to consider the demands in order to secure their release.
She said the abductors believed their associates had been unjustly detained and insisted that both the individuals and their seized property be returned.
“We are appealing to all those concerned to assist in meeting these demands so that we can regain our freedom,” she said in the video.
The wife of the retired military officer also appealed directly to the Katsina State Government, traditional rulers and influential leaders across affected communities to intervene in the matter.
She urged leaders from five local government areas to work with security agencies and relevant authorities toward finding a solution that would lead to their safe release.
The development has generated widespread concern, particularly given Major General Abubakar’s status as a former senior military officer who once served as the public face of Nigeria’s armed forces.
Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement on the video or the demands made by the abductors.
The incident underscores the persistent security challenges facing parts of northwestern Nigeria, where cases of kidnapping for ransom and bandit attacks continue to pose serious threats to residents and travellers.
As efforts intensify to secure the couple’s freedom, family members, associates and concerned Nigerians continue to hope for their safe and unconditional release.
