The Katsina State Government has revealed that retired Major General Rabe Abubakar and his wife were deliberately targeted and tracked from Kaduna before they were abducted by gunmen in the state.
The disclosure came as the government said ongoing rescue efforts had reached an advanced stage, expressing confidence that the retired military officer and his wife would soon regain their freedom.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Bala Salisu Zango, said preliminary investigations showed the abduction was not a random attack but a carefully planned operation.
According to the government, evidence gathered so far suggests the couple were monitored from Kaduna, their point of departure, before being intercepted along the Matazu axis of Katsina State.
The government described the development as a disturbing indication of increasingly sophisticated tactics being adopted by criminal groups operating in the region.
It noted that findings from the investigation point to the involvement of an organised criminal network, a factor now guiding security agencies in their efforts to rescue the victims and apprehend those responsible.
Following the abduction, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda directed security agencies to prioritise the safe rescue of the retired general, his wife and other victims in captivity.
The state government said security operatives were combining technology-driven intelligence with ground operations to track the kidnappers and secure the victims’ release.
Authorities also appealed to residents to provide information that could assist investigations, particularly details of suspicious movements or activities before the abduction.
While assuring the public that intensive efforts were ongoing, the government reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safe return of the victims and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The retired general and his wife were abducted while travelling through Katsina State, sparking widespread concern and prompting a coordinated response from security agencies.
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