Troops rescue widow of late Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar in Katsina raid
By Victor Idajili
Nigerian Army troops, backed by the Air Force, rescued Mrs Amina Abubakar on Monday — weeks after she and her husband were kidnapped by bandits in Katsina State. Her husband, retired Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, died in captivity.
The Defence Headquarters said the rescue followed days of intensified search-and-rescue operations by troops of Operation Fansan Yamma.
According to Defence spokesperson Maj Gen Samaila Uba, troops tracked the kidnappers to Tunga Village during ongoing offensives against criminal groups in the area. The bandits opened fire on Mrs Abubakar as they fled under pressure from advancing soldiers.
“In the course of the encounter, the bandits shot Mrs Abubakar before abandoning her and fleeing due to the overwhelming pressure from advancing troops,” Uba stated.
Soldiers recovered her and rushed her to a military hospital, where she is now receiving treatment and responding well. The Armed Forces said they’ll continue supporting her and her family through her recovery.
The rescue came as Operation Fansan Yamma launched “Operation Clean Sweep III” on June 14, 2026, after Gen Abubakar was killed in captivity. Troops have been carrying out fighting patrols, intelligence-led raids, cordon-and-search missions, and clearance operations across suspected terrorist hideouts in the joint operations area.
Operation spokesperson Lt Col Aliyu Danja said troops scored major wins in Dikkawa Hills and nearby communities, uncovering and destroying several bandit camps. Clearance operations also hit Adua, Nasarawa and Karaduwa communities, wiping out logistics bases and life-support structures used by the criminals.
“During the operations, terrorists’ life-support structures and logistics bases were discovered and destroyed, further degrading the criminals’ ability to operate within the area,” Danja said.
He added that the operation is running with support from sister security agencies and local stakeholders. The military reassured residents of Matazu and surrounding areas that efforts will continue to protect lives and deny bandits freedom of movement.
Gen Abubakar’s abduction and death sparked the current offensive. The military says the push to arrest those behind the kidnapping and other attacks in Katsina will be sustained.
