The son of late Major General Rabe Abubakar (rtd), Isyaka Rabe, has publicly challenged the Katsina State Government's account of his father's death, asserting that the retired general did not die from complications of diabetes or hypertension. General Rabe died while in the custody of his abductors, two weeks after being kidnapped in Katsina State.
Son Rejects Government's Version
Isyaka Rabe insisted that his father had no history of either diabetes or hypertension. He described claims attributed to the Katsina State Government that his father died of diabetes as inaccurate. Speaking during an interview with Deutsche Welle on Sunday, June 14, 2026, Isyaka noted that some people believe the general may have died from a snake bite, but he stressed that only God knows the actual cause of his father's death.
“I truly don’t believe it was diabetes. In our view, it was a heart attack. If you look at it, his legs were restrained. Moreover, some people said that he was walking, and he didn’t die, so God knows, since only God is the knower,” Isyaka said.
Circumstances of Body Recovery Unclear
Isyaka stated he had no information on how his father's body was recovered. “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 and that they should direct such questions to the government.”
Mother Still in Captivity
Isyaka also dismissed social media reports claiming his mother had been released from the kidnappers' den. “Whoever says she (mother) has been released, I, Isyaka Rabe, son of Major General Rabe, I say that is a lie; she has not been released. Right now, she is still in their custody.”
Background of the Kidnapping
General Rabe, a former Director of Defence Information, and his wife were abducted by armed bandits in Katsina State. The police launched a manhunt and deployed additional tactical units for rescue operations. The driver was injured in the attack, and police urged the public to report credible information.
Bandits Abduct 15 Women, Children in Katsina
In a separate incident, armed bandits abducted 15 residents, mostly women and children, during a coordinated late-night raid in Bakori LGA. The gunmen used diversion tactics, split into groups, and escaped through the Faskari route as vigilantes failed to rescue the victims. Armed groups imposed a N10 million levy on farming communities, threatening to block cultivation if payment was not made.
