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A suspected bandit kingpin, identified as Kachalla Muhammad, has claimed that the continued detention of the wife of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe was due to the intense presence of security operatives in the area where she was being held.
The claim was made in an audio message that surfaced on social media, in which the suspect allegedly addressed the Chairman of Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State regarding the abduction of the retired military officer and his wife.
In the recording, the bandit leader said he had initially considered releasing the general’s wife but abandoned the plan because of ongoing security operations around the location.
According to him, releasing the victim while security forces were actively deployed in the area would have allowed authorities to claim credit for her rescue.
“I had promised the General that I would release his wife, but the deployment of security personnel in the area made me change my mind,” the suspect reportedly stated in the audio message.
The bandit leader also expressed displeasure over the arrest of individuals he claimed were associated with his group, arguing that the development had complicated efforts toward possible negotiations.
He demanded the release of three unnamed persons allegedly being held by government authorities, as well as the return of cattle he claimed were confiscated during security operations in the Jikamshi axis.
Muhammad further suggested that meeting those demands could create conditions for peace and reduce attacks in the affected communities.
The retired Major General and his wife were abducted by armed men in Katsina State, an incident that has triggered widespread concern and intensified security efforts to secure their freedom.
Meanwhile, the Katsina State Government has expressed confidence that ongoing intelligence-driven operations will lead to the successful rescue of the couple and other victims currently in captivity.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Dr. Bala Salisu Zango, the government disclosed that security agencies had made significant progress in their investigations since the abduction occurred.
The statement noted that Governor Dikko Umaru Radda directed security agencies immediately after the incident to prioritise efforts aimed at securing the safe release of the retired general, his wife and other kidnapped persons.
According to the government, preliminary findings indicate that the abductors may have specifically targeted the couple and possibly monitored their movements before carrying out the attack.
Officials said the nature of the operation suggests the involvement of a well-organised criminal network and reflects a growing pattern of coordinated attacks across parts of the North-West region.
“The way this attack was carried out suggests it was carefully planned and specifically targeted. This has influenced the government’s response strategy. Security agencies are working around the clock, deploying intelligence and technology to locate the victims and secure their release,” the statement said.
The Katsina State Government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safe rescue of the abducted couple while sustaining efforts to confront insecurity and protect residents across the state.
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