Nigeria’s armed forces have announced the successful rescue of Amina Abubakar, the widow of a retired major general who died in kidnappers’ custody over the weekend, more than two weeks after the couple were abducted from the country’s northwestern Katsina State.
The pair—Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar and his wife Amina—were first taken hostage by unidentified armed groups at the end of May. In a public statement released Monday, defense officials confirmed that Amina was shot by her captors during the rescue operation as the kidnappers retreated under advancing troop pressure. She is currently receiving ongoing medical care at a military hospital.
The rescue was confirmed by the couple’s daughter, Bilkisu, via a WhatsApp post that expressed gratitude for the outcome. “We are deeply grateful to Allah for His mercy and protection,” she wrote. “Our mummy has been rescued from the hands of evil by the Nigerian Army. We pray that Allah grants her good health, complete recovery, peace of mind, and strength after everything she has been through.”
Maj Gen Abubakar’s death, announced by Katsina State officials on Saturday, has been attributed to pre-existing chronic health complications including diabetes and high blood pressure. His remains were interred the same day his death was made public.
Samaila Uba, director of defense information, explained that the rescue followed weeks of intensified search and clearing operations targeting criminal networks in the region. “During sustained offensive operations and pressure mounted on the criminal elements, troops made contact with the bandits… leading to the successful recovery of Mrs Abubakar,” Uba said. He added that military leadership is prioritizing Amina’s recovery and extending all necessary support to the family, and that operations will continue to hunt down the perpetrators of the abduction.
No organized group has yet claimed responsibility for the kidnappings. Northwestern Nigeria has long grappled with persistent insecurity rooted in the activities of local criminal gangs known colloquially as “bandits,” who regularly carry out ransom-fueled kidnappings, cattle rustling, and violent attacks on isolated rural communities. The region also hosts a presence of militant jihadist groups, and the United States carried out an airstrike targeting an alleged militant camp in neighboring Sokoto State last Christmas.
Just 10 days before Amina’s rescue, a video circulated online showing the retired general and his wife issuing a public appeal to the Katsina State government. The pair called for the government to release detained bandit members and return seized livestock in exchange for their own freedom.
President Bola Tinubar voiced his reaction to Maj Gen Abubakar’s death over the weekend, saying he was “shocked” by the news. The president described the general’s killing as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat that armed criminal groups pose to national security and civilian life across Nigeria.