The death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar after his abduction by bandits in Katsina State has sparked fresh calls for a major overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture.
Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna on Thursday, a group of retired military officers and associates of the late general described his death as a painful reflection of the worsening insecurity across the country. The briefing was led by retired Brigadier General Isma’ila Abdullahi and attended by several senior military veterans and diplomats.
Abdullahi said the former army officer’s death had left colleagues, friends and family members devastated, stressing that the incident exposed the urgent need for stronger action against banditry, terrorism and kidnapping.
“Our colleague, friend and brother, Major General Rabe Abubakar (rtd), died following his abduction by cruel bandits. His sudden death has left us shocked and deeply saddened,” he said.
While expressing gratitude to the Federal Government and the Katsina State Government for efforts that secured the release of the late general’s wife, Hajiya Amina Rabe Abubakar, the retired officers insisted that more decisive measures are needed to prevent similar tragedies.
According to the group, the killing of the retired general is not an isolated incident but part of a broader security crisis affecting communities across Nigeria. They warned against politicising insecurity or reducing it to ethnic and regional narratives, arguing that the threat affects all Nigerians.
“We must resist the temptation to politicise insecurity. This is a Nigerian problem that requires a collective national solution,” Abdullahi stated.
The retired officers called for reforms aimed at strengthening security institutions, improving cooperation among agencies and increasing investment in intelligence gathering. They also urged authorities to tighten border security to curb the influx of illegal weapons used by criminal groups.
The group further advocated stronger support for community-based security initiatives, especially in rural areas that frequently come under attack. They argued that local vigilantes and volunteer security outfits should receive proper training, supervision and equipment to help protect vulnerable communities.
Addressing the debate around state police, the retired officers said they support the concept but cautioned that only states with sufficient financial and operational capacity should be allowed to establish and sustain such security structures.
They also urged state governments to establish and properly equip forest guard units to complement existing security efforts in forested regions often used as hideouts by criminal gangs.
The retired officers concluded by calling on governments at all levels to support families affected by terrorism, kidnapping and banditry, while intensifying efforts to rescue citizens still in captivity. They said the death of Major General Abubakar should serve as a wake-up call for stronger political will and a coordinated national security strategy.
