- Former VP says sacrifice of soldiers now futile
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the death of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe in bandits’ captivity, saying it is a “damning indictment” of the Tinubu administration’s failure to secure Nigerians and has made “the sacrifices of our soldiers and citizens seem futile.”
In a statement issued Sunday by his media office, Atiku described the incident as proof of the “ineffectiveness of the Tinubu administration’s approach to tackling insecurity” and said it highlights the “frightening reality that no Nigerian, regardless of status or service to the nation, is safe.”
“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,” Atiku said.
“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.”
General Rabe was abducted on May 30, 2026, alongside his wife in Katsina State. Reports indicate the retired General, who had diabetes and hypertension, succumbed to complications from his medical conditions while in captivity after efforts to secure his release failed. His wife remains in captivity.
Atiku said the tragedy was compounded by another attack on the same day in Chibok, Borno State, where terrorists attacked the Kautikari community and set primary and secondary school facilities ablaze.
“Chibok is not just a location; it is a national scar. Since the abduction of more than 270 schoolgirls in April 2014, the name has become a symbol of pain, loss, and collective trauma,” he said. “Twelve years later, many families have still not fully recovered… Yet, on the very day a retired Major General died in the captivity of bandits, terrorists returned to the Chibok axis to burn schools.”
“The symbolism is devastating. A retired General who spent his life fighting for the security of Nigeria dies in the hands of criminals, while terrorists return to one of their most notorious trademarks — attacking schools and terrorising communities.”
Atiku warned that General Rabe’s death is not isolated. He noted that other senior military officers and distinguished Nigerians have been killed or subjected to similar trauma by criminal gangs in recent times, sending the dangerous message “that those who once defended the nation can no longer rely on the nation for protection.”
He said approximately 90 schoolchildren and teachers abducted from Oyo and Borno States since May 15 remain in captivity, alongside scores of other Nigerians held by bandits and terrorists nationwide.
“Every school burned by terrorists is an attack on Nigeria’s future. Every child abducted is a reminder of state failure. Every citizen killed or left in captivity is an indictment of a security architecture that is no longer working,” Atiku stated.
The former Vice President reiterated his call for the declaration of a “state of emergency on security,” arguing that “empty promises, propaganda, and routine condemnations are no longer enough.”
“The Federal Government must rise to the occasion without further delay… Nigerians deserve decisive, coordinated, and result-oriented action that will rescue those in captivity, dismantle criminal networks, and restore confidence in the capacity of the state to protect lives and property.”
Atiku extended condolences to General Rabe’s family, prayed for the safe release of his wife and all captives, and urged Nigerians not to become numb to daily tragedies.
“May the soul of General Rabe rest in peace. But let his death serve as a wake-up call. A nation that cannot protect its heroes, its children, and its citizens is a nation facing a grave crisis. The time for decisive action is now.”
