The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has said the death of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe in the custody of bandits and the renewed terrorist attack on communities in Chibok, Borno State, demonstrates that Nigeria is steadily losing hard-won gains in the fight against insecurity.
In a statement on Sunday by his media office, Atiku described the death of the former Director of Defence Information as a tragic indictment of the Federal Government’s inability to protect citizens, warning that no Nigerian is safe under the current security situation.
Rabe, a former Army spokesperson, was kidnapped alongside his wife on May 30, 2026, in Katsina State. Reports said he died while in captivity after suffering complications linked to diabetes and hypertension. Reports indicate that the kidnappers are still holding his wife.
Speaking on the development, Atiku said the death of a senior retired military officer at the hands of criminals was both heartbreaking and unacceptable.
“Gen Rabe devoted the better part of his life to defending Nigeria. He served this country with honour, courage, and distinction. That such a man could end up dying in the hands of criminals is both heartbreaking and unacceptable,” he said.
According to the former vice president, the episode highlights Nigerians’ rising vulnerability and indicates the failure of the country’s security architecture.
“His death marks yet another painful blow to our nation’s security architecture and a chilling reminder of the vulnerability of even our most experienced military leaders in the face of rampant banditry and terrorism,” Atiku stated.
Atiku argued that the tragedy goes beyond the death of one retired military officer and highlights a broader national crisis in which criminal groups have become increasingly emboldened.
“Gen Rabe’s ordeal is not an isolated case. In recent times, other senior military officers and distinguished Nigerians have either been killed or subjected to similar traumatic experiences at the hands of criminal gangs. The message being sent is dangerous: that those who once defended the nation can no longer rely on the nation for protection,” he added.
Atiku stated that the circumstances surrounding the retired general’s death were made even more unsettling by terrorists attacking the Kautikari village in Borno State’s Chibok Local Government Area on the same day, destroying elementary and secondary school facilities.
Drawing parallels to the 2014 kidnapping of over 270 schoolgirls in Chibok, the ADC leader said the current attack has revived one of the country’s darkest scars.
“Chibok is not just a location; it is a national scar. Since the abduction of more than 270 schoolgirls in April 2014, the name has become a symbol of pain, loss, and collective trauma.
“Twelve years later, many families have still not fully recovered from the emotional devastation of that tragedy. Yet, on the very day a retired major general died in the captivity of bandits, terrorists returned to the Chibok axis to burn schools,” he said.
He noted that the incident was a sad metaphor for a country still fighting insurgency and banditry.
“The symbolism is devastating. A retired general who spent his life fighting for the security of Nigeria dies in the hands of criminals, while terrorists return to one of their most notorious trademarks — attacking schools and terrorising communities in Borno State.
“What this tells Nigerians is simple and painful: despite the sacrifices of our soldiers, despite the billions spent on security, despite the countless lives lost in the war against terror, the nation is steadily losing the gains that were won through blood and sacrifice,” he added.
Atiku also expressed concern over the plight of students and teachers kidnapped in recent weeks, stating that around 90 victims taken from Oyo and Borno states since May 15 remain in captivity.
He cautioned that continuous kid abductions and school attacks highlight the country’s deteriorating security condition.
“Every school burnt by terrorists is an attack on Nigeria’s future. Every child abducted is a reminder of state failure. Every citizen killed or left in captivity is an indictment of a security architecture that is no longer working,” he said.
The ADC presidential candidate renewed his request for a state of emergency on security, emphasising that the federal government must go beyond rhetoric and take immediate action to combat banditry and terrorism.
“This is precisely why I called for the declaration of a state of emergency on security. We cannot continue to pretend that all is well while bandits and terrorists roam freely, abduct citizens, burn schools, occupy communities, and even bring down our senior military officers.
“The federal government must rise to the occasion without further delay. Empty promises, propaganda, and routine condemnations are no longer enough. Nigerians deserve decisive, coordinated, and result-orientated action,” he said.
The ADC chieftain extended condolences to the family of the late general and prayed for the safe release of his wife and other Nigerians being held by kidnappers and terrorist groups.
“May the soul of General Rabe rest in peace. However, let his death serve as a reminder. A nation that cannot protect its heroes, its children, and its citizens is a nation facing a grave crisis. The time for decisive action is now,” he said.
