Hajiya Amina Abubakar, the widow of Major General Abubakar Rabe (rtd), is still in captivity, according to sources.
She was abducted alongside her late husband when their vehicle was ambushed along Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, on May 30, 2026.
Rabe, who died in custody and was buried on Saturday, was last seen in a video where his captors demanded release of some bandits and seized livestock.
In the four-minute, two-second video circulated on social media, the couple were seen standing and relaying the demands of their captors.
Speaking in the video, the widow conveyed the abductors’ demand for the release of three of their members identified as Sani, Aminu, and Nasiru.
According to her account, two of the detained individuals were arrested in Jikamshi, while the third was arrested in Kano.
She further appealed to the Katsina State Government and the leaders of five local government areas to facilitate compliance with the demands in order to secure their release.
But in a statement on Saturday, Nasiru Mu’azu, Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs in Katsina, announced that Rabe had died from complications of diabetes and hypertension.
“The Katsina State Government, with a heavy heart and deep sense of loss, wishes to inform the general public of the tragic passing of Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar,” the statement read.
Security sources said efforts were ongoing to rescue her, but declined to give details or a timeline.
Earlier this week, Kachalla Muhammad, a bandit kingpin, had said that he did not release the widow as he had promised because he did not want security agencies to take credit for it.
In an audio message, Kachalla said he suspended the plan because of the heavy presence of security personnel in the area.
The bandit leader said he had initially indicated willingness to release the retired general’s widow, but later declined because of the ongoing security operations in the area.
He said, “I had promised the General that I would release his wife, but the deployment of security personnel in the area made me change my mind.”
Kachalla also expressed anger over the arrest of individuals he claimed were linked to his group, warning that the arrests had complicated efforts toward any possible dialogue.
He further demanded the release of three persons his people allegedly in government custody and the return of cattle allegedly seized during security operations in the Jikamshi area.
The bandit leader stated that meeting the demands could pave the way for peace and an end to attacks in the area.
