By Adamu Yusuf
The Katsina State Government has expressed optimism over the imminent release of former Director of Defence Information, Major General Rabe Abubakar (Rtd), and his wife, who were recently abducted by suspected bandits along the Matazu axis of the state.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Dr. Bala Salisu Zango, the government said coordinated efforts involving security agencies and intelligence networks had reached an advanced stage, raising hopes that the retired military officer and his wife would soon regain their freedom.
According to the statement, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda immediately directed all relevant security agencies to prioritise the safe rescue of the couple and other victims believed to be held in bandits’ camps.
The government noted that security operations were being intensified through the deployment of technology, intelligence gathering and ground surveillance.
Preliminary investigations, the government disclosed, indicated that the abduction was a deliberate and targeted operation.
Evidence gathered so far suggests that the retired general and his wife were monitored and trailed from Kaduna, their point of departure, before being intercepted by their abductors.
Authorities described the development as a disturbing shift in the tactics employed by criminal groups operating in the region.
The state government further stated that the precision of the attack pointed to the involvement of an organised criminal network, a factor now guiding ongoing rescue efforts.
It reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safe return of the victims and bringing all those responsible for the abduction to justice.
The government also appealed to members of the public to provide any useful information that could assist security agencies in dismantling the network behind the crime.
While assuring residents that security forces have maintained sustained surveillance and operational presence in the affected area, the government urged the family of Major General Abubakar and the general public to remain calm.
It expressed confidence that ongoing high-level operations would soon yield positive results and promised to provide further updates as the situation develops.
