One of the sons of the late Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar (retd), Isyaka Rabe, has said his father had no history of diabetes or high blood pressure, contrary to claims attributed to the Katsina State Government.
In an interview with Deutsche Welle on Sunday, Isyaka said reports suggesting that his father died of diabetes were inaccurate.
He also said some people believed the late general may have died from a snake bite, based on a video reportedly released by kidnappers.
However, he said 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,” he said.
While praying for the repose of his father’s soul, Isyaka described him as a deeply religious, peace-loving man who lived a simple life.
He added that the late general died a hero.
When asked how the family received his father’s remains, Isyaka said he had no information on the circumstances surrounding the recovery of the body.
“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,” he said.
Isyaka also disclosed that his mother, who was abducted alongside his father, remained in captivity, dismissing reports circulating on social media that she had been released.
“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,” he said.
Maj Gen Rabe, a former Army spokesperson, was abducted alongside his wife on May 30, 2026, in Katsina State.
On June 6, the bandits demanded the release of three detained fighters and the return of livestock allegedly seized during security operations as conditions for the couple’s freedom.
The demands were conveyed in a four-minute video released by the kidnappers, showing Abubakar and his wife appealing to the Katsina State Government for the release of three detained fighters and the return of the livestock.
But on Saturday, the government confirmed Abubakar’s death, describing it as a tragic loss to the state and the nation.
The government said the late general died from complications of diabetes and hypertension.
Speaking on the death of Maj Gen Rabe, former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, in a statement issued on Sunday by his media office, described it as a tragic indictment of the Federal Government’s inability to protect citizens.
He warned that no Nigerian is safe under the current security situation.
Atiku said the death of a senior retired military officer at the hands of criminals was both heartbreaking and unacceptable.
“Gen Rabe devoted the better part of his life to defending Nigeria. He served this country with honour, courage, and distinction. That such a man could end up dying in the hands of criminals is both heartbreaking and unacceptable,” he said.
He said the incident exposed the growing vulnerability of Nigerians and reflected the failure of the country’s security architecture.
“His death marks yet another painful blow to our nation’s security architecture and a chilling reminder of the vulnerability of even our most experienced military leaders in the face of rampant banditry and terrorism,” Atiku stated.
He argued that the tragedy went beyond the death of one retired military officer and highlighted a broader national crisis in which criminal groups had become increasingly emboldened.
“Gen Rabe’s ordeal is not an isolated case. In recent times, other senior military officers and distinguished Nigerians have either been killed or subjected to similar traumatic experiences at the hands of criminal gangs.
“The message being sent is dangerous: that those who once defended the nation can no longer rely on the nation for protection,” he added.
Atiku further raised concerns over the fate of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in recent weeks, noting that about 90 victims kidnapped from Oyo and Borno states since May 15 remained in captivity.
He warned that the continued abduction of children and attacks on schools underscored the worsening security situation across the country.
“Every school burned by terrorists is an attack on Nigeria’s future. Every child abducted is a reminder of state failure. Every citizen killed or left in captivity is an indictment of a security architecture that is no longer working,” he said.
The ADC presidential candidate reiterated his call for the declaration of a state of emergency on security, insisting that the Federal Government must move beyond rhetoric and adopt urgent measures to curb banditry and terrorism.
Also, the Special Adviser to Sokoto State Governor on Security Matters, Col Ahmed Usman (retd), described the death of Maj Gen Rabe in bandits’ captivity as a national tragedy, urging renewed commitment to tackling insecurity across the country.
Usman expressed profound grief over the loss, describing the late general as a distinguished officer who devoted his life to the service of Nigeria.
“The death of Maj Gen Abubakar Rabe is a painful loss to his family, the Nigerian Army and the nation as a whole. He served this country with dedication and honour, and it is heartbreaking that his life ended under such tragic circumstances,” he said.
The security adviser noted that the incident highlighted the persistent threat posed by banditry and kidnapping, stressing the need for stronger collaboration among government institutions, security agencies and local communities.
“His death is a painful reminder of the security challenges confronting our nation. It should serve as a wake-up call for all stakeholders to intensify efforts towards ending banditry and other violent crimes,” Usman stated.
He also expressed concern over the continued captivity of the late general’s wife, who remains in the hands of the kidnappers.
“We are deeply worried about the fate of his wife and call on security agencies to deploy every available resource to secure her safe and immediate release,” he said.
Usman urged authorities at all levels to strengthen ongoing efforts to secure the freedom of Nigerians currently being held captive by criminal groups across the country.