The son of a retired Nigerian general who died in captivity has rejected government claims that his father died from illness, insisting he had no history of diabetes or hypertension.
Major General Rabe Abubakar (rtd) was kidnapped alongside his wife on 30 May. On Saturday, the Katsina State Government confirmed his death, stating he had died from complications related to diabetes and high blood pressure.
However, speaking to Deutsche Welle on Sunday, the late general’s son, Isyaka Rabe, disputed the official narrative.
“I truly don’t believe it was diabetes,” Mr. Rabe said. “In our view, it was a heart attack. If you look at it, his legs were restrained.”
He noted that other theories had circulated, including speculation based on a video released by the kidnappers that the general may have succumbed to a snake bite, but added that “only God knows” the actual cause of death.
When questioned about how his father’s body was recovered, Mr. Rabe said he had been left in the dark. “I told [people] I did not know and that they should direct such questions to the government,” he said.
Mr. Rabe also dismissed reports on social media suggesting his mother had been freed, confirming she remains in the custody of the gunmen.
“Whoever says she has been released… I say that is a lie; she has not been released. Right now, she is still in their custody,” he stated.
Hostage video
The abduction of the retired general and his wife was announced late last month.
On 6 June, a four-minute video emerged showing the couple appealing to the Katsina State Government to meet their captors’ demands.
The bandits demanded the release of three detained fighters and the return of livestock they claimed had been seized during security operations in exchange for the couple’s freedom.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed his condolences over the general’s death, describing it as a tragic loss to the nation.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has vowed to intensify military operations to track down the kidnappers and bring them to justice.
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