Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
A retired senior military officer, Major General Rabe Abubakar (rtd), and his wife have been abducted by suspected bandits along the Matazu axis of Katsina State, adding to growing concerns over insecurity in the region.
Sources familiar with the incident said the former Director of Defence Information was travelling to Katsina to attend a wedding ceremony when gunmen intercepted their vehicle on Saturday.
During the attack, the driver’s attempt to escape reportedly ended in injury after he sustained gunshot wounds. However, Major General Abubakar and his wife were seized by the attackers and taken into a nearby forest.
A video that later surfaced on social media showed the couple’s vehicle parked within the premises of the Matazu Divisional Police Headquarters.
Observers at the scene noted visible bullet holes on the red Peugeot 504, indicating the intensity of the attack.
The incident marks another high-profile kidnapping involving a retired military officer in Katsina State. It comes more than a year after the abduction of Brigadier-General Maharazu Tsiga, a former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who spent 56 days in captivity before regaining freedom.
Despite ongoing security operations aimed at restoring peace, Katsina State continues to grapple with recurring attacks by armed groups.
In a separate incident on Friday, suspected bandits reportedly stormed Kiliya village in Dutsinma Local Government Area, killing no fewer than 16 residents.
The attack occurred shortly after Juma’at prayers as villagers gathered to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir festivities.
A resident, who requested anonymity, recounted that panic broke out when armed men arrived on motorcycles and ordered residents not to flee.
According to the witness, the assailants later moved toward a mechanic’s residence before opening fire on people in the area. He said he narrowly escaped death after seeking refuge inside a nearby house.
The resident recalled that while hiding, he and others heard continuous gunfire and cries for help. When the attackers eventually left, villagers emerged to discover several bodies scattered across the community.
Among the victims, he said, were some of his relatives, including uncles and cousins.
The violence reportedly forced hundreds of residents to abandon their homes, with many seeking refuge in neighbouring Bagagadi and Radda villages.
Community members also expressed fears that the casualty figure could increase as some residents remain missing.
Locals further reported that additional bodies were found on farmlands surrounding the village, suggesting that some victims may have been attacked while working on their farms.
Reacting, the Katsina State Police Command said it has commenced intensive search and rescue operations following the attack.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, the incident occurred on May 30, 2026, at about 11:00 a.m. when suspected armed bandits attacked a red Peugeot 406 saloon car along the Karaduwa-Matazu Road in Matazu Local Government Area.
The command said the driver, Abdullahi Sa’id, sustained a gunshot injury to his right arm during the attack, while two occupants of the vehicle, identified as Abdullahi Batsari and Amina Abdullahi, were abducted before security operatives arrived at the scene.
DSP Aliyu stated that the Divisional Police Officer of Matazu, accompanied by operatives of the VCRU, responded swiftly after receiving the report, secured the area and evacuated the injured driver for medical treatment.
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Ali Umar Fage, personally visited the scene and ordered the deployment of additional personnel and operational assets to strengthen ongoing efforts aimed at rescuing the victims and apprehending the perpetrators.
The police spokesperson said further developments on the operation would be communicated in due course.
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