A notorious bandit commander, Kachalla Muhammadu, has reportedly claimed that former military spokesperson, Rabe Abubakar, is being held by his group following the retired officer’s abduction.
According to reports, the bandit leader made the assertion in a voice recording, stating that the retired major general remains alive and in good health while in captivity.
Sources familiar with the matter quoted Kachalla as saying that Abubakar was safe and under the control of his group.
The bandit leader is reportedly from Nasarawar Yamma in the Karaduwa District, north of the Sayaya Junction area, also known as Sabon Sara. He is said to have previously participated in government-backed peace initiatives involving armed groups operating in parts of northwestern Nigeria.
The development has raised fresh concerns about the level of planning behind the kidnapping. Sources alleged that Kachalla revealed his group had tracked the retired general’s movements from Kaduna before carrying out the abduction.
According to the claims, the gang received intelligence about Abubakar’s travel plans, including details of his route and the times he usually departed his residence.
The kidnappers reportedly intended to intercept him near the Musawa Junction, where the road branches toward Musawa and Gidan Mutum Daya. However, the retired officer allegedly took a different route through the Musawa–Matazu corridor, where the armed group eventually intercepted him.
Sources quoted Kachalla as saying that the gang adjusted its plans after Abubakar failed to take the route they initially anticipated, leading to the successful abduction along the Matazu axis.
Reports indicate that Abubakar and his wife were kidnapped on May 30, 2026, while travelling to Katsina in Katsina State.
The couple’s driver reportedly escaped despite suffering a gunshot wound during the attack. Meanwhile, the vehicle involved—a red Peugeot 504 assigned to the retired military officer—was later recovered and taken to the Matazu Divisional Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force.