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African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the tragic death of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe while in captivity of bandits, describing the incident as a damning indictment of the failure of the Federal Government to secure the lives of Nigerians.
Atiku, in a statement released by his press office on Sunday, said the death of the former Director of Defense Information once again shows the ineffectiveness of the Tinubu administration’s approach to addressing insecurity and highlights the frightening reality that no Nigerian, regardless of status or service to the nation, is safe.
“It is with deep sadness and deep anger that we mourn the death of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe, a distinguished former Army Spokesman and Director of Defense Information, who tragically passed away while in captivity of bandits.
“General Rabe dedicated much of his life to the defense of Nigeria. He served this country with honor, courage and distinction. That such a man could end up dying in the hands of criminals is both heartbreaking and unacceptable,” Atiku said.
General Rabe was kidnapped on May 30, 2026, along with his wife, who is reportedly still held by the kidnappers in Katsina State.
Reports indicate that the retired general succumbed to complications arising from diabetes and hypertension during his ordeal, after efforts to secure his release proved unsuccessful.
According to Atiku, the tragedy is not just the death of a retired military officer. It is a clear reflection of a nation where criminal elements have grown stronger while citizens are increasingly left to their own devices.
“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.
“General Rabe’s ordeal is not an isolated case. In recent times, other senior military officers and distinguished Nigerians have been killed or subjected to similar traumatic experiences at the hands of criminal gangs. The message sent is a dangerous one: those who once defended the nation can no longer count on the nation’s protection.”
Atiku noted that the tragedy of General Rabe’s death was made even more disturbing by another terrifying event that occurred on the same day.
“While Nigerians mourned the death of a retired Major General held captive by bandits, terrorists simultaneously attacked Kautikari community in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State and set fire to primary and secondary school facilities.
Chibok is not just a place; it is a national scar. Since the abduction of more than 270 schoolgirls in April 2014, the name has become a symbol of collective pain, loss and trauma. Twelve years later, many families have still not fully recovered from the emotional devastation of that tragedy. Yet, on the same day a retired major general died as a prisoner of bandits, terrorists returned to the Chibok axis to burn down schools.
It was as if Nigeria had been dragged back into one of the darkest chapters in its history. The flames that consumed those school buildings yesterday also rekindled painful memories that Nigerians have been trying to overcome for more than a decade. The tragedy is not simply that the schools were burned; it’s that a wound that never truly healed has reopened once again.
“The symbolism is devastating. A retired general who spent his life fighting for Nigeria’s security dies in the hands of criminals, as terrorists return to one of their best-known brands: attacking schools and terrorizing communities in Borno state.
“What this tells Nigerians is simple and painful: despite the sacrifices of our soldiers, despite the billions spent on security, despite the countless lives lost in the war against terrorism, the nation is steadily losing the gains made through blood and sacrifice.”
The former Vice President lamented that about 90 school children and teachers abducted in Oyo and Borno states since May 15 remain captive, along with scores of other Nigerians held captive by bandits and terrorists across the country.
He said the burning of schools in Chibok while schoolchildren remain in captivity elsewhere should alarm every Nigerian and force government to face the reality that insecurity is getting worse rather than better.
“Every school burned by terrorists is an attack on Nigeria’s future. Every kidnapped child is a warning of state failure. Every citizen killed or left prisoner is an indictment of a security architecture that no longer works.
“The death of General Rabe and the burning of schools in Chibok on the same day are not isolated incidents. Together, they tell the story of a nation under siege and a government that is steadily allowing its hard-won security gains to slip away.
“This is exactly why I called for the declaration of a state of security emergency. We cannot continue to pretend that all is well while bandits and terrorists roam freely, kidnap citizens, burn down schools, occupy communities and even take down our top military officers.
“The Federal Government must rise to the occasion without further delay. Empty promises, propaganda and routine condemnations are no longer enough. Nigerians deserve decisive, coordinated and results-oriented action that will rescue people in captivity, dismantle criminal networks and restore confidence in the state’s ability to protect lives and property.”
Atiku expressed his condolences to the family of the late General Abubakar Rabe, prayed for the safe release of his wife and all Nigerians currently held captive and urged the nation not to become numb to the daily tragedies occurring across the country.
“May General Rabe’s soul rest in peace. But let his death serve as a wake-up call. A nation that cannot protect its heroes, its children and its citizens is a nation facing a grave crisis. The time for decisive action is now.”
Signed:
Atiku press office
Abuja
