Retired Major General Abubakar Rabe and his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, who were abducted in Katsina State a week ago, have appealed to the government to facilitate their release.
The appeal was contained in a video released by their abductors and circulated on social media.
In the four-minute video, the couple were seen standing while conveying the demands of their captors.
Speaking in the footage, the wife of the retired army officer said the abductors were demanding the release of three individuals identified as Sani, Aminu and Nasiru, as well as the return of livestock allegedly seized from them.
According to her, two of the detained persons were arrested in Jikamshi, while the third was arrested in Kano.
She appealed to the Katsina State Government and leaders of five local government areas to intervene and ensure compliance with the demands to secure their freedom.
Rabe, who spoke briefly in the video, called for peace, noting that the abductors had expressed willingness for dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
No ransom demand was mentioned in the video.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Katsina State Government nor security agencies had officially reacted to the video.
Kano Times recalls that the retired Major General, his wife and their driver, Abdullahi Sa’idu, were abducted on Saturday while travelling to Katsina.
The incident occurred along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli road in Matazu Local Government Area, near Zakin Baure village, where armed men suspected to be bandits reportedly ambushed their vehicle.
The driver was said to have sustained a gunshot injury to his hand during the attack but was later spared by the gunmen.
Meanwhile, reports indicated that notorious bandit leader, Kachallah Muhammad, has established contact with the family of the retired General.
Sources said the bandit kingpin opened communication with the victims’ relatives on Monday.
