‘Our Father Was Not Diabetic’: Family Disputes Govt’s Account of General Rabe’s Death as Wife Remains in Captivity

Malik Yahya/

The family of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar has challenged the Katsina State Government’s account of the circumstances surrounding his death, deepening questions over the final days of the former military officer who died while being held by bandits.

Isyaka Rabe, one of the late general’s sons, said claims that his father died from complications related to diabetes and hypertension were inaccurate, insisting that the family had no knowledge of him suffering from either condition.

Speaking in an interview with Deutsche Welle Hausa, Isyaka rejected the explanation offered by the Katsina State Government following his father’s death in captivity.

“Our father was not diabetic and he did not have high blood pressure,” he said, disputing the official narrative that has dominated public discussion since the tragedy was announced.

The disagreement has brought fresh attention to a case that has shocked many Nigerians, not only because of the stature of the victim but also because it highlights the continuing insecurity facing communities across northern Nigeria.

Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, was abducted alongside his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, on May 30, while travelling near Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Their driver survived the attack despite sustaining gunshot injuries.

Days after the abduction, a video released by the kidnappers showed the retired general and his wife appealing for the fulfilment of the captors’ demands, including the release of detained associates and the return of livestock allegedly seized during security operations.

On Saturday, the Katsina State Government announced that the retired officer had died in captivity.

The state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Mu’azu, said the former general died from complications arising from diabetes and hypertension despite efforts by security agencies and the government to secure his release.

However, Isyaka said the family was unconvinced by that explanation.

While acknowledging that only God ultimately knows the precise cause of death, he suggested that a heart attack could have occurred under the harsh conditions of captivity.

He also noted that some people had speculated that a snake bite may have contributed to his father’s death after reviewing footage released by the kidnappers.

The family’s position has been reinforced by one of the late general’s daughters, who publicly questioned the government’s account and maintained that her father did not suffer from diabetes.

Beyond the dispute over the cause of death, the family’s greatest concern remains the fate of Hajiya Amina Abubakar.

Contrary to reports circulating on social media, Isyaka said his mother has not been released and remains in the custody of the kidnappers.

He urged the public to disregard claims suggesting otherwise.

The revelation has added another layer of anguish for a family already mourning a husband, father and grandfather whose military career was devoted to national service.

The death of the retired general has also reignited debate over Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.

Many Nigerians have questioned how a senior retired military officer could be abducted and held for weeks without being rescued, while others argue that his fate mirrors the daily reality faced by thousands of ordinary citizens living under the threat of bandit attacks and kidnappings.

At his burial in Katsina, mourners described the incident as a painful reminder of the insecurity that continues to grip large parts of the country.

President Bola Tinubu, military authorities and senior government officials have expressed condolences over the retired general’s death, while security agencies have pledged to intensify efforts to rescue those still in captivity and bring those responsible to justice.

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