Bandits Release Video of Retired General, Wife in Captivity, Demand Prisoner Swap

KATSINA, NIGERIA – Armed bandits have released a video showing retired Major General Rabe Abubakar and his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, in captivity, while demanding a prisoner exchange as a condition for their release.

The couple was reportedly abducted on May 31 while travelling to attend a wedding ceremony near Zakin Baure village in Katsina State. During the attack, their driver was said to have been shot but managed to escape.

In the video circulating on social media, the retired military officer and his wife appeared alongside a bandit leader identified as Kachalla Muhammadu, who issued the demand for a prisoner swap. The captives were also seen appealing to community leaders and the Katsina State Government to intervene and facilitate their release.

The abduction of a retired senior military officer has intensified concerns over the growing threat posed by armed bandit groups operating across Nigeria’s North-West region. Security observers have described the incident as one of the most high-profile kidnapping cases recorded in the area this year.

The Nigerian Army has confirmed that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victims but has not disclosed details regarding their location or condition.

Security analysts say the demand for a prisoner exchange may signal an evolving strategy by bandit groups seeking to increase pressure on government authorities and gain leverage in negotiations.

The release of the video has also renewed calls for stronger security measures in Katsina State, where kidnapping, banditry, and attacks on rural communities continue despite sustained military operations.

As of the time of filing this report, the Katsina State Government had not announced whether it would engage in negotiations with the kidnappers.