Katsina Police Hunt Bandits Who Kidnapped Retired Military General

KATSINA — Katsina State Police Command has stepped up a manhunt for armed bandits who kidnapped retired Major-General R. Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information. The Nation confirmed the abduction on Monday. Police said officers are working with the military and DSS to trace the victims and apprehend the kidnappers.

The abduction of a retired senior military officer represents a significant escalation in the boldness of bandit groups operating in Katsina State. The victim’s military background makes the case particularly sensitive. Security officials are treating the kidnapping as a high-priority case requiring immediate resolution.

State Police Commissioner Aliyu Musa said the command has deployed special forces teams to the areas where the retired general was last known to have been. He said intelligence assets are active and that the perpetrators will be found.

Bandits’ Growing Audacity

The kidnapping of a retired military general follows a pattern of increasingly audacious bandit operations in northwest Nigeria. Armed groups have abducted traditional rulers, lawmakers, businesspeople, healthcare workers, and students. The targeting of a former senior defence official marks a new threshold.

Security analysts said the bandits may be sending a deliberate message about their reach and capability. Alternatively, they may simply be responding to the high ransom value that a prominent figure commands without regard to the political consequences.

The Katsina State Government said it has contacted the retired general’s family and is providing support. Governor Dikko Radda said the government will leave no stone unturned in securing the safe return of the victim. He said banditry will not be allowed to become the new normal in Katsina State.