A former Director of Defence Information, Major General Rabe Abubakar (rtd.), and his wife have reportedly been abducted by suspected terrorists, locally dubbed as bandits, along the Matazu axis of Katsina State.

According to information obtained by our reporter, the retired senior military officer and his wife were travelling to Katsina State when armed assailants intercepted them and whisked them away on Saturday.

Sources familiar with the incident said that the abduction occurred within Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, a region that has witnessed repeated attacks by armed criminal groups in recent years.

A source said the retired general’s driver managed to escape from the scene despite sustaining a gunshot wound during the attack. “Maj. Gen. R. Abubakar, former Director of Defence Information, was kidnapped together with his wife on his way to Katsina today.

He was kidnapped in the Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. His driver escaped with a gunshot injury,” the source said.

The source further disclosed that the vehicle involved in the incident, described as a red Peugeot 504 assigned to the senior officer, was later recovered and is currently parked at the Matazu Divisional Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force.

“The senior officer’s Peugeot 504, red in colour, is parked at the Matazu Division of the Nigeria Police Force,” the source added.

A message circulating among security and military contacts, reportedly forwarded by retired Brigadier General Sagir Musa, also raised the alarm over the incident and called for urgent intervention by relevant authorities.

The message read: “Maj Gen R Abubakar, former Director Defence Information, was kidnapped together with his wife on his way to Katsina today.