Troops Rescue Widow of Late Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar in Katsina Operation

Troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces have rescued Amina Abubakar, widow of the late retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, during ongoing counter-banditry operations in Katsina State, the Defence Headquarters said on Monday.

Mrs Abubakar was abducted alongside her husband on 30 May along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area of the state. Her rescue comes just two days after the retired senior officer, a former Director of Defence Information, was confirmed dead while in captivity.

In a statement, the Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, said troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, recovered Mrs Abubakar during intensified search-and-rescue operations targeting armed bandits behind the abduction.

He explained that troops made contact with the criminals at Tunga Village, where sustained pressure from advancing forces led to the abandonment of the victim and her eventual rescue.

According to him, the assailants shot Mrs Abubakar before fleeing the scene as troops closed in.

She was immediately evacuated to a military medical facility, where she is currently receiving treatment and reportedly responding positively, the military said.

The Defence Headquarters noted that the ongoing military campaign, including Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, was launched following the abduction and death of the retired general. The operations are being conducted by troops of the Joint Task Force North West under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, focusing on dismantling terrorist and bandit networks in affected areas.

Military clearance operations have been extended across several identified criminal hideouts, including Karaduwa, Adua, Nasarawa, and the Dikkawa Hills axis, all within Matazu and surrounding communities.

Authorities said the sustained offensive involves intelligence-led raids, clearance missions, and fighting patrols aimed at neutralising armed groups and restoring security in the region.

The retired officer and his wife were reportedly travelling to attend a wedding ceremony when they were kidnapped. A video later circulated showing the couple in captivity, with the abductors demanding the release of three detained suspects as a condition for their freedom.

The death of Major General Rabe Abubakar in captivity had earlier sparked widespread concern and renewed public debate over rising insecurity and kidnapping incidents across northern Nigeria.

The military has reaffirmed its commitment to continuing operations until those responsible for the abduction and killing are apprehended and neutralised across affected communities in the region.