New details have surfaced about the ordeal endured by retired Major General Rabe Abubakar and his wife, Amina, during their kidnapping by bandits in Katsina State. The couple's abduction sparked confusion, with conflicting accounts about what truly happened in captivity.
Amina survived gunshot wounds during the ordeal. She regained her freedom shortly after her husband's death.
General Rabe's death triggered outrage across Nigeria. Federal authorities, Katsina State officials, and military leadership faced criticism for poor communication about rescue efforts.
Until her transfer to Abuja on Thursday, June 18, 2026, the widow received medical care at the Federal Medical Centre in Katsina. Hospital authorities kept her ward under strict lockdown throughout her stay.
Only doctors, nurses, immediate family, close contacts, and senior government officials could access her room. Security around her location remained extremely tight.
Two individuals with direct access to her spoke to Weekend Trust under condition of anonymity. Neither was authorised to discuss her case publicly.
Both sources confirmed she eventually disclosed details of their captivity. Based on her account, they said, her survival bordered on miraculous.
Amina initially believed she wouldn't make it out alive. Blood loss from her gunshot wound had left her hopeless.
According to one source, bandits grew panicked after General Rabe died. They quickly prepared to escape on their motorcycles.
The captors placed her on one bike and fled the location in convoy formation. Notably, they didn't attempt to move other prisoners with them.
As they raced through the bush on two wheels, gunfire erupted in the distance. Military troops were closing in on the bandits' position.
The noise confused the fleeing criminals badly. Instead of staying together, they scattered in different directions.
Her captor—the man riding the motorcycle with her—grew increasingly frustrated. He stopped partway through the escape route.
He ordered her to get off the bike. In apparent rage, he shot her in the thigh and took off.
She lay abandoned in the bush after that shooting. Troops discovered and picked her up shortly afterward.
Amina has not yet granted any formal interview to journalists. Her full account of the kidnapping remains largely unknown to the public.
Hospital officials in Katsina maintained strict confidentiality throughout her treatment. Her medical condition and recovery progress were never officially disclosed.
The restricted access to her meant that conflicting narratives about General Rabe's death continued unchallenged. Citizens remained largely in the dark about what actually transpired.
Moving her to Abuja for further medical care marked a significant shift in her case. Whether she'll now speak publicly about her experiences remains uncertain.
