The Abduction And Death Of Major General Rabe Abubakar And Other Matters -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

My heart was broken when I read about the death of Major-General Rabe Abubakar (Rtd), the former defense spokesman in the hands of his abductors. Confirmed media report has it that Major-General Rabe Abubakar (Rtd), the former Director of Defense Information was abducted by armed bandits on May 30 along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Katsina State and tragically died while in captivity earlier this month, June. A statement from the Katsina government says that the deceased died of a natural cause; from complications of diabetes and hypertension, something his son who wondered how his father’s body was retrieved from his abductors has refuted. But, even if the fallen general had died of natural cause is it not the horror of being in the hands of bandits: the horror of being tortured, exposed to the vagaries of nature, denied food and medication that led to his death? 

It is unfortunate that Gen. Rabe who had served his country meritoriously as a soldier and retired honorably could meet such a cruel fate in the hands of ragtag insurgent army. It is ironical and unfortunate. It is a tragedy of immense proportion. And it goes to underscore the level of insecurity in the country. When we talk about worsening level of insecurity in the land, many think we are raising false alarm. Everyday scores of Nigerians are being killed or kidnapped for ransom by bandits in the open. Unfortunately more than half of such incidences are not reported in the media. And more unfortunately, the government of the day seems to be comfortable with the level of insecurity in the land. It is like insecurity has become part of the tools of governance. 

Terrorism and armed banditry seem to be a thriving business in Nigeria despite the trillions budgeted annually to fight it. In the 2026 fiscal year, Nigeria budgeted N3.16 trillion, about $2.1 billion for the defense sector. And when you factor the broader security apparatus like the Ministry of Police Affairs, Interior and the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the total defense allocation will be N6.57 trillion which is an increase of over 39% of the previous year. This is a whooping sum of money that is bigger than the entire budget of most African countries and yet what Nigerians get for huge defense spending is insecurity and harvest of death. 

According to independent mass atrocity monitor, this year, between January and April 2026, at least 3,693 Nigerians have been killed by terrorists, armed herders, and bandits across the country while thousands of others are kidnapped for ransom. Added to this number is that of others that are not reported in the press and many others that are wounded, maimed or displaced from their communities. Experts believe that because of the fluid, widespread nature of these conflicts, the exact daily tallies are difficult to track. However, several credible organizations monitor and report on the scale of the violence. In the 2026 Global Terrorism Index, Nigeria ranked fourth globally for the highest impact of terrorism, experiencing 46% surge in terrorism-related deaths recently. And the Nigeria Risk Index indicates that the Northwest and the North central regions remain the worst hit by these organized banditry and insurgency ravaging the country. 

As the war against terrorism rages, nobody seems to be safe in Nigeria now. As the insurgents attack and sack civilian settlements, so that they decimate military formations. This year alone at least six top-ranking military officers and other ranks have died in the hands of terrorists and armed insurgents in Nigeria. And, “these high-profile casualties primarily occurred during coordinated attacks by groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State, as well as bandit abductions in the Northwest.” On March 1, this year, Lt. Col. Umar Ibrahim Mairiga was killed along with other soldiers when the ISWAP terrorists attacked a military formation in Mayenti, Bornu State. On March 9, insurgents suspected to be members of the Bokoharam group killed Lt. Col. Umar Farouq when they overran a military base in the Kukawa Local Government Area of Bornu State. Also, in March, Lt. Col. S. I. IIiyasu was killed when members of Bokoharam attacked multiple military positions in Bornu State. On April, 9th Brigadier General Oseni Braimoh, the Commander of the 29 Task Force Brigade was killed in a coordinated overnight assault by members of the ISWAP on his military base Benisheikh, Bornu State. And now we have case of Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar. 

The implication of all of these is that the country Nigeria is very unsafe. If our serving and retired generals could be picked up and slaughtered like chicken, who is safe under this situation. Nobody and nowhere is safe. Although official reports indicate that the Northwest and North-central are the worst hit by insurgents attack but nowhere is safe in the country now. The battle has metastasized to every nook and cranny of the country. Report has it that over 30 monarchs in the Southwest have fled their domain and relocated to the cities because of insurgency attacks. Nigeria there is no place to hide when the insurgents finished with the villages, they will face our cities. We have to do something to avert this existential threat and that is chase out this dormant regime that has prioritized continued stay in power over the security of the lives of the people. The choice is yours!

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed 

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com 

An actress, social activist, politician 

London, UK