Hajiya Amina Abubakar, widow of the late retired Major General Abubakar Rabe, has regained her freedom after spending over two weeks in captivity following her abduction by bandits in Katsina State.
The Defence Headquarters announced the rescue on Monday.
It said the operation followed intensified search-and-rescue efforts by troops of Operation FASAN YAMMA.
A statement signed by the Director Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said troops made contact with the kidnappers at Tunga Village during sustained offensive operations against criminal elements in the area.
According to the military, the bandits shot Mrs Abubakar before abandoning her and fleeing in the face of advancing troops.
“The rescue operation followed intensified search-and-rescue efforts conducted by troops of Operation FASAN YAMMA. During sustained offensive operations and pressure mounted on the criminal elements, troops made contact with the bandits at Tunga Village, leading to the successful recovery of Mrs Abubakar.
“In the course of the encounter, the bandits shot Mrs Abubakar before abandoning her and fleeing due to the overwhelming pressure from advancing troops,” the statement partly said.
The retired army officer and his wife were kidnapped on May 30, 2026, when armed men ambushed their vehicle along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area while they were travelling to attend a wedding ceremony.
Days after their abduction, a video surfaced online showing the couple in captivity. In the footage, the kidnappers demanded the release of three individuals identified as Sani, Aminu and Nasiru, whom they claimed were being held by authorities.
Hajiya Amina appealed to the Katsina State Government and community leaders in five local government areas to intervene and secure their freedom.
The situation took a tragic turn when news emerged on Saturday that General Rabe had died while still in the custody of his abductors. His wife, however, remained captive.
Sources disclosed on Monday that security forces tracked the kidnappers to their hideout and engaged them in a gun battle, leading to the rescue of the widow. Authorities are yet to provide full details of the operation.
Prior to her release, a notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Muhammad, had reportedly stated in an audio message that he had intended to free the widow but suspended the plan due to intensified security operations in the area.
According to him, the deployment of security personnel and the arrest of individuals allegedly linked to his group complicated efforts to secure her release. He also warned that the arrests had affected any prospects for dialogue.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had not issued an official statement on the circumstances surrounding the rescue operation.
