Tears as Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, is buried in Katsina

TEARS flowed freely on Saturday as family members, friends, military personnel and government officials gathered in Katsina State to bid farewell to retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, the former Director of Defence Information, who died in the hands of his abductors after weeks in captivity.

The remains of the retired Army spokesman were laid to rest at Dawa Cemetery in Katsina at about 2:55 p.m. following funeral prayers attended by hundreds of mourners.

The funeral prayer was led by Imam Kabir Dogarmaya, who reminded worshippers that every soul would inevitably taste death and prayed for Allah to forgive the deceased’s shortcomings and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus.

While the late General’s remains were released for burial on Saturday by his captors, his wife, as of the time of filing this report, is still being held captive.

Among the dignitaries present at the burial were the Deputy Governor of Katsina State, Farouk Jobe, top government officials, security personnel and other prominent members of the community.

His burial came amid growing outrage over the circumstances surrounding his death after he and his wife were abducted by bandits while travelling to Katsina about two weeks ago.

Sources said the retired general endured severe hardship in captivity as his health deteriorated in the kidnappers’ den, where he was reportedly denied access to adequate medical care despite battling diabetes and hypertension.

A viral video that surfaced online on Friday showed the frail condition of the retired military officer. In the footage, he appeared visibly weak and exhausted, seated among other captives, with his swollen legs drawing concern from many Nigerians who feared for his survival.

Sunday Tribune gathered that the retired Major General was in critical condition and required urgent medical attention before his eventual death.

The Defence Headquarters later confirmed his death in captivity, describing him as a patriotic officer who served the nation with distinction and made significant contributions to Nigeria’s counterinsurgency operations.

Military authorities disclosed that they deliberately refrained from making public comments about his abduction while rescue efforts were ongoing, noting that every available operational resource had been deployed in the hope of securing his freedom.

The military, however, vowed that his death would further strengthen ongoing operations against terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal groups threatening the country’s security.

While the military confirmed the death of the retired general, the whereabouts of his wife, who was abducted alongside him, remained unknown as of Saturday, raising fresh concerns about her safety.

Meanwhile, the Katsina State Government formally mourned the death of the retired military officer, describing his passing as a monumental loss to both the state and the nation.

In a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Internal Security, Dr. Nasiru Dammusa, the government said the death of the former Director of Defence Information had plunged the state into mourning, particularly given his distinguished service to Nigeria and his contributions to national security.

The commissioner disclosed that despite sustained and coordinated efforts by the state government and security agencies to secure his freedom, the retired general died while still in captivity.

According to Dammusa, investigations indicated that the late officer died from complications arising from diabetes and hypertension.

“The deceased retired General died a natural death from complications of diabetes and hypertension,” the statement said.

He noted that the tragic circumstances surrounding the general’s abduction and death had left many residents devastated, stressing that the loss extended far beyond his immediate family.

“His abduction and subsequent death are not only a loss to his family and Katsina State but a monumental loss to the entire country,” he stated.

The commissioner added that Governor Dikko Umaru Radda had conveyed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family, describing the incident as a dark moment for Katsina State and a painful reminder of the urgent need for stronger collaboration in the fight against banditry and other forms of violent crime.

He assured residents that the government’s resolve to restore peace and bring those responsible to justice remained unshaken.

The Defence Headquarters had earlier on Saturday confirmed the death of the retired Major General, describing his passing as a painful loss to the military and the nation.

In a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the late senior military officer was described as a patriotic soldier whose service to the nation left an enduring legacy in the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).

The statement noted that Major General Abubakar served the country with distinction in several strategic appointments, including as spokesman for various military formations and as Director of Defence Information, where he played a key role in shaping military communications and public engagement.