Retired Major General Abubakar Rabe, former Director of Defence Information and army spokesperson, died in the custody of bandits, prompting condemnation from presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. In a statement released Sunday, Atiku described the general's death as profoundly sad and anger-inducing, blaming the administration of President Bola Tinubu for escalating insecurity across Nigeria. He cited the recent attack on schools in Chibok, Borno State, as further proof of deteriorating security conditions. Atiku emphasized that Rabe had dedicated much of his life to defending the nation, serving with honour and distinction in key military communication roles. "It is with profound sadness and deep anger that we mourn the death of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe, a distinguished former Army Spokesperson and Director of Defence Information, who tragically passed away while in the captivity of bandits," the statement read. "General Rabe devoted the better part of his life to defending Nigeria. He served this country with honour, courage, and distinction. That such a man could end up dying in the hands of criminals is both heartbreaking and unacceptable," Atiku said. The circumstances surrounding Rabe's capture and detention were not detailed in the statement. Atiku linked the incident to broader failures in national security under Tinubu's leadership, calling attention to the vulnerability of even high-ranking former security officials. No official update on the incident was provided by the Nigerian military or presidency as of the statement's release.
A retired army spokesperson died in bandit custody, an event Atiku used to accuse Tinubu's government of failing to secure the country. The same administration that claims improved security presided over the death of a man who once fronted the military's public image. If senior ex-officers are not safe, ordinary citizens in remote regions face even greater peril. The Chibok school attacks cited in the statement show the pattern is widening, not contained.
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