Fresh details have emerged on the abduction of a retired Nigerian Army Major General, Rabe Abubakar Batsari, and his wife, Hajiya Amina, in a violent bandit attack in Katsina State.
The incident occurred on Saturday along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli road in Matazu Local Government Area when armed men ambushed their vehicle near Zakin Baure village.
Eyewitnesses say the attackers blocked the road, opened fire on a red Peugeot 406, and forced it to stop before whisking the retired senior officer, his wife, and their driver into a nearby forest.
The driver, Abdullahi Sa’idu, reportedly sustained a gunshot wound to the hand but survived after the attackers abandoned him at the scene. Security operatives later recovered the vehicle and launched rescue operations, while police confirmed the attack but initially did not identify the high-profile victims.
Authorities say reinforcements have been deployed and investigations are ongoing to track down the kidnappers and secure the release of the abducted couple.
Local sources suggest the attackers may not have known the identity of their victims, describing the ambush as opportunistic rather than targeted. However, others believe the kidnapping could be linked to armed criminal groups operating in the region, which has long suffered from banditry and rural insecurity.
The incident has renewed fears in Katsina State, where several major highways have become unsafe due to frequent attacks. Residents say many communities are now cut off from safe travel routes, with farmers abandoning fields and commercial activity declining sharply.
Security analysts warn that the latest abduction highlights the deepening crisis in the North-West, where armed groups continue to operate across forest corridors despite ongoing military operations and community security efforts.
The kidnapping also echoes previous high-profile abductions in the state, raising concerns about the growing boldness of bandits and the safety of both civilians and high-ranking retired military officers in affected regions.
Authorities have assured that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victims unharmed and bring the perpetrators to justice.
