Abduction of Retired Major General Renews Concerns as Former Military Chiefs Become Targets of Criminal Gangs.

Abduction of Retired Major General Renews Concerns as Former Military Chiefs Become Targets of Criminal Gangs

The recent abduction of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar has once again drawn attention to the growing insecurity in Nigeria, with former senior military officers increasingly becoming targets of kidnappers, bandits, and other armed criminal groups.

According to a report by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), the retired officer, who previously served as Director of Defence Information and spokesperson of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, was abducted alongside his wife while travelling through Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State on May 30, 2026.

The report stated that armed men ambushed their vehicle, opened fire, and whisked the couple away, while their driver reportedly escaped despite sustaining gunshot injuries. As of the time of the report, the retired general remained in captivity.

The incident has reignited public concern over the persistent security challenges facing the country, particularly as several retired military officers who once occupied strategic security positions have fallen victim to violent attacks in recent years.

ICIR recalled that former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, was killed by gunmen along the Abuja–Keffi Road in 2018, while retired Major General Idris Alkali disappeared the same year in Plateau State before his remains were later recovered.

The report also highlighted the killing of retired Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Maisaka during an attack on his Kaduna residence in 2021 and the abduction of retired Colonel Rabi'u Garba Yandoto in Zamfara State in 2023, who was later released after spending days in captivity.

Other notable incidents include the kidnapping and subsequent killing of retired Major General Richard Duru in Imo State in 2023 despite reports that ransom had been paid, as well as the murder of retired Brigadier General Uwem Udokwere during a home invasion in Abuja in June 2024.

The trend reportedly continued in 2025 with the abduction of former NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga (rtd), and retired Major Joe Ajayi, who was kidnapped in Kogi State and later found dead despite ransom negotiations.

Security analysts, according to ICIR, believe the increasing attacks on retired military personnel reflect the growing sophistication and reach of criminal networks operating across the country and underscore the broader security challenges confronting Nigeria.

The latest incident has renewed calls for stronger security measures, improved intelligence gathering, and more effective strategies to protect citizens and curb the activities of armed groups across the country.

Source: International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR).