Details Emerge on How General Rabe Abubakar's Body Was Found After His Death

Conflicting stories are making it hard to understand how Rabe Abubakar's body was recovered. His family is questioning the official report about how he died while in captivity.

Mr Abubakar, a retired major general, and his wife were kidnapped on 30 May along the Marabar Musawa, Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area, Katsina State.

The Katsina State Government later said he died in captivity. They blamed his death on complications from diabetes and hypertension.

But his family disagrees, saying he had no history of these health issues. His wife is still being held by the kidnappers.

A security source, who asked to stay anonymous, said the kidnappers told state officials where to find the body. They took it to a spot near the Karaduwa community. The body was then taken to Katsina under military protection.

How They Found the Body

In a phone chat with PREMIUM TIMES, the security source shared that an ambulance was sent to Karaduwa after the kidnappers made contact. The source said those involved were told not to bring any security personnel.

“They said they did not want any security presence,” the source explained.

The ambulance was sent to a place near the Karaduwa bridge. The crew was told to turn the vehicle towards Matazu before the kidnappers arrived on motorcycles with the body.

“After the driver turned the ambulance, they came with the corpse on motorcycles and handed it over,” the source said. They told everyone there not to touch the body until they had left the area.

The source explained that the body was later taken to Matazu, then military personnel escorted the ambulance carrying it to Katsina.

“While returning home, I saw an ambulance escorted by soldiers carrying the corpse to Katsina,” the source said.

PREMIUM TIMES could not confirm this information independently. The source also mentioned that some residents initially said the body was abandoned near Karaduwa before locals found it. This version spread in the community before details of the handover came out.

Another source from the area, who also wanted to remain anonymous, backed up the earlier story. This source said locals found the body near a sawmill in Karaduwa.

“Near the area where they have machines used for cutting wood for people who buy and sell, that was where it was dumped,” he said. “The locals later found the body and told security personnel, who came, identified the remains, and took them away in an ambulance escorted by the army to Katsina.”

PREMIUM TIMES could not confirm either story, and military officials have not publicly discussed how the body was recovered.

On Sunday, former Kogi West senator Dino Melaye claimed that “heavily armed bandits” gave the late general’s body in Katsina before they returned to a nearby forest in Matazu. Melaye did not share where he got this information.

But looking at the visuals he posted revealed some problems. For instance, they showed a woman who does not seem to match the public pictures of Mrs Abubakar, who is still missing.

Family Searching for Answers

One of the late general’s sons, Isyaka Abubakar, said the family is still confused about how the body was found.

“When I announced the time for my father’s funeral prayer, many people began asking how the body was recovered. I told them I did not know and that they should ask the government,” he said in an interview with Deutsche Welle (DW).

He added, “I also want to know how the body was recovered without rescuing her.” This highlights a key question for the family: how they got the retired general’s body back while his wife, who was taken at the same time, is still missing.

Wife Still Captive

The family has denied reports saying that Mrs Abubakar has been freed.

“Take it from me, our mother is still in captivity. She has not been released,” Isyaka said. Her ongoing detention is raising worries among family and locals as efforts to get her back continue.

Conflicting Death Reports

When announcing Mr Abubakar’s death, the Katsina State Government said he died from complications related to diabetes and hypertension.

But Isyaka rejected that, saying his father had no history of those illnesses. He told DW that claims about the former military officer dying from diabetes are wrong.

Some people think the late general might have died from a snake bite based on the last video from the kidnappers, although he admitted that only God knows the real cause of death. The deceased officer’s daughter, Adda Abubakar, said something similar on social media, insisting that her father did not have diabetes and suggesting a snake bite might have been the cause.

No one has verified either claim.

Military Action Underway

With the unclear details around Mr Abubakar’s death, the military has started an operation in parts of Katsina State.

On Monday, the Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA announced the start of Operation CLEAN SWEEP III in Matazu Local Government Area and nearby communities, including Karaduwa. They said this operation began after the retired general’s kidnapping and death in captivity.

The military stated that troops have carried out clearance operations and targeted areas known as hideouts for terrorists and bandits. They aim to dismantle criminal networks and improve security.

Background

Mr Abubakar was a retired major general and former director of defense information. He was kidnapped alongside his wife on 30 May while traveling along the Marabar Musawa, Kafinsoli Road in Katsina State. His death in captivity has drawn attention nationwide and raised concerns about the ongoing kidnapping and insecurity in northern Nigeria. While the retired officer has been buried, questions linger about how he died and how his body was recovered.