Fresh controversy has trailed the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar in kidnappers’ captivity, as one of his sons, Isyaka Rabe, has disputed claims by the Katsina State Government that the former military officer died from complications linked to diabetes.
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Isyaka, who spoke in an interview with Deutsche Welle on Sunday, said reports suggesting that his father died of diabetes were inaccurate, adding that the family believed the late general may have suffered a heart attack while in captivity.
“I truly don’t believe it was diabetes. In our view, it was a heart attack. If you look at it, his legs were restrained. Moreover, some people said that he was walking, and he didn’t die, so God knows, since only God is the knower,” he said.
He also noted that some persons believed the retired general might have died from a snake bite, based on a video reportedly released by the kidnappers, but stressed that only God knows the actual cause of death.
Major General Abubakar, a former spokesman of the Nigerian Army, was abducted alongside his wife in Katsina while travelling to Kaduna State. The Katsina State Government confirmed on Saturday that he died in captivity and attributed the death to complications arising from underlying medical conditions.
However, Isyaka said he had no information on how his father’s remains were recovered, stating that questions on the recovery of the body should be directed to the government.
“When I announced the time for my father’s funeral prayer, many people began asking how the body was recovered. I told them I did not know and that they should direct such questions to the government,” he said.
He described his father as a hero and disclosed that his mother, who was abducted alongside the late general, remains in captivity. He dismissed reports circulating on social media that she had been released.
The circumstances surrounding the recovery of the retired general’s body have also drawn public concern.
Nigerian businessman, Isaac Fayose, in a video posted on his Facebook page on Sunday, questioned how the government knew the cause of death without an autopsy and how the body was recovered so quickly after the reported death.
“How did they release the body? How did they know where to pick up the body? Who called to inform them that the retired general is dead?” Fayose asked.
He also queried the claim that the retired general died of diabetes and hypertension, asking who conducted the autopsy to establish the cause of death.
“They could not release the man when he was alive but they released his body for burial,” he said, describing the situation as disturbing.
Reacting to the development, retired military officer and security analyst, Captain Abdullahi Bakoji, described the death of Major General Abubakar in kidnappers’ captivity as a national disgrace.
Bakoji said the incident should serve as a wake-up call to the Federal Government and security agencies to urgently review the country’s security tactics.
“This death has definitely affected serving soldiers and those retired, because it shows that even those who dedicated their lives to protecting the nation are not safe from insecurity,” he said.
According to him, the death of a retired Major General in the hands of terrorists highlights the worsening insecurity faced daily by ordinary Nigerians.
“This shows there’s a massive gap in security tactics, especially in getting intelligence reports, deterring crimes before they happen and urgent response to crimes,” he added.
Bakoji called for stronger synergy among security agencies, improved welfare for military personnel, and urgent action to tackle poverty, which he said remains a major driver of insecurity in the country.
He prayed for the repose of the soul of the late Major General and for strength for the family to bear the loss.
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