Bandits Release Video of Ex-Army Spokesman Rabe Abubakar in Captivity

Bandits released a video on Sunday, June 7, 2026, showing retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Army spokesman, and his wife in captivity, weeks after the couple was abducted in an attack on their residence, in a development that has shocked the Nigerian military community and renewed alarm about the reach of criminal networks.

The video, which circulated widely on social media, showed the couple alive but in evident distress. Abubakar, who served as Director of Army Public Relations and was one of the most recognisable faces of the Nigerian Army’s communications arm during a period of intense counter-terrorism operations, was seen speaking to the camera while in the custody of his captors.

Security sources confirmed the video was authentic and said negotiations for the release of the couple were ongoing. The Nigerian Army and other security agencies declined to provide detailed comments on the status of the rescue operation, citing operational sensitivity.

Abduction Shocks Military Community

The abduction of a retired senior military officer and his wife has sent shockwaves through the security and defence community in Nigeria. However, analysts noted that the incident reflects a pattern in which high-profile individuals, including business leaders, traditional rulers, and even former government officials, have increasingly become targets of well-organised kidnapping networks.

Furthermore, the video release appears to be a pressure tactic by the kidnappers to accelerate ransom negotiations. In past abductions of prominent Nigerians, the release of such videos has typically preceded demands for payment. Still, government officials have consistently warned against paying ransoms, arguing that such payments fund further criminal activity.

The incident adds to a growing list of security failures in the Federal Capital Territory and its environs. Notably, the same week saw gunmen kill a local vigilante and abduct four residents including a pastor in Kubwa, while the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries suspended overnight church vigils nationwide due to worsening security conditions. Consequently, public confidence in the government’s ability to protect lives is at a low point, with civil society groups, opposition politicians, and even members of the ruling APC calling for an urgent security overhaul.

Family Appeals for Help

Relatives of the couple released a public appeal on Monday, urging the federal government and security agencies to prioritise the rescue of the former general and his wife. In addition, retired military officers and veterans groups issued statements condemning the abduction and calling on the government to treat it as a matter of urgent national concern. As a result, the case has become one of the most talked-about security incidents of the week, amplifying demands for a decisive government response to the kidnapping crisis.