Confusion persists over how the remains of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar were recovered from his captors. The former military officer and his wife were abducted on May 30 along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina state.
Conflicting Accounts of Recovery
Days later, the Katsina state government announced that General Abubakar had died while in captivity, attributing his death to complications from diabetes and hypertension. However, this explanation has been strongly challenged by his family, who insist he did not suffer from either condition.
According to Premium Times, one security source described a coordinated handover. The kidnappers contacted officials and directed them to an area near the Karaduwa community. An ambulance was sent without security personnel, as requested. The source said: "They said they did not want any security presence." The ambulance was directed toward Karaduwa bridge, and the kidnappers arrived on motorcycles to hand over the body. The remains were later taken to Matazu and escorted to Katsina by military personnel.
However, a different account from a resident claims the body was not handed over directly but was found dumped near a sawmill area in Karaduwa. Locals discovered the remains and informed security operatives, who later moved the body with a military escort.
Social Media Claims Add to Confusion
Former senator Dino Melaye posted on social media that heavily armed bandits personally delivered the body in Katsina before returning to the forest. He wrote: "Heavily armed bandits handed over the body of General Rabe yesterday morning in Katsina and left for the neighboring forest of Matazu, unchallenged! What a country ???" Observers have pointed out inconsistencies in the visuals shared with that claim.
Family Still Seeking Answers
The deceased officer's son, Isyaka Abubakar, said the family remains unclear about the true sequence of events. "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," he told Deutsche Welle. He also disputed the cause of death, claiming it was a heart attack, not diabetes or hypertension.
Authorities have not confirmed either version, and the military has not publicly explained what happened. The investigation remains unclear.
