Senator David Mark, the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, has called the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar a devastating blow to Nigeria. Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, was killed by his kidnappers after being abducted two weeks ago.
The ex-Senate President expressed deep sadness over the tragedy in a statement released Saturday. According to him, the killing exposes a chilling truth: no Nigerian is truly safe anymore.
Abubakar was kidnapped near Matazu while travelling to a wedding, sources confirm. Katsina State Government confirmed his death on Saturday, describing it as a tragic national loss.
Mark noted that a senior military officer spending decades serving the nation should have been safer. "If a distinguished military officer can fall victim to criminals in this manner, it raises troubling questions about the security of ordinary Nigerians," he said in the statement.
The ADC leader warned that insecurity has spread dangerously across every region over the past decade. Schools, homes, highways and places of worship are no longer safe, he pointed out.
Communities have been devastated and businesses crippled by the worsening violence, Mark told reporters through his media adviser, Kola Ologbondiyan. Citizens now live in constant fear across the country.
Nigeria's image as a leading African power is being damaged by its inability to protect people and property, the retired brigadier general argued. He stressed that this demands urgent, decisive action from authorities.
Mark called for a complete overhaul of security strategies nationwide. He also demanded stronger intelligence operations and better teamwork among security agencies.
Greater commitment from all stakeholders is needed to fight violent crime effectively, he emphasized. Citizens and government must work together to defeat this threat.
The ADC chairman expressed confidence that Nigeria can still overcome these security challenges. But success requires courage, political will and national resolve, he stressed.
Mark extended condolences to Abubakar's family and the Armed Forces. He also sympathized with all families who've lost loved ones to kidnapping and banditry.
"The protection of lives and property is the foremost responsibility of government," Mark declared. "This tragedy must not be allowed to pass as another statistic.
It should galvanise urgent action to reclaim our nation from the grip of insecurity," he added.
