The Nigerian Army has rescued Mrs. Abubakar, wife of the late retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, after troops engaged armed bandits in a fierce gun battle during a search-and-rescue operation in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Security sources said the rescue was carried out at Tunga village, where soldiers tracking the abductors made contact with the armed group, triggering an exchange of gunfire that forced the bandits to flee.
In the course of the confrontation, the assailants reportedly shot Mrs. Abubakar before abandoning her and escaping into the surrounding area under sustained military pressure.
“The bandits shot her and fled when we made contact at Tunga village. We have rescued Mrs. Abubakar. She is bleeding, we have given her first aid and are moving her for urgent medical attention,” a military source disclosed.
The source said troops on the ground promptly administered first aid to the injured victim to stabilise her condition before evacuating her to a medical facility for specialised treatment.
Mrs. Abubakar’s rescue comes amid national outrage over the fate of her husband, retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was abducted alongside her by bandits in Katsina State and was later reported to have died in captivity after allegedly developing complications linked to hypertension.
The latest development represents a breakthrough in efforts by security forces to secure the release of kidnap victims in the North-West, a region that has continued to grapple with recurring attacks, abductions and violent activities by armed groups.