Fresh details have emerged regarding the recovery of the remains of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, with conflicting accounts raising questions about what truly happened after his death in captivity.
The former military officer and his wife were abducted on May 30 along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. Days later, the Katsina State Government announced that the retired general had died while in captivity, attributing his death to complications arising from diabetes and hypertension.
However, members of his family have strongly disputed that explanation, insisting that General Abubakar did not suffer from either condition.
Conflicting Versions of Body Recovery
Premium Times report indicated that there are at least two different accounts of how the late general’s body was recovered.
According to a security source, the recovery followed a coordinated handover arranged by the kidnappers. The source claimed that the abductors contacted authorities and directed them to a location near Karaduwa community.
An ambulance was reportedly dispatched to the area after the kidnappers requested that no security personnel accompany the vehicle.
The source said the ambulance driver was instructed to proceed toward Karaduwa Bridge, where armed kidnappers arrived on motorcycles and handed over the body before leaving the area. The remains were then transported to Matazu and later escorted to Katsina by military personnel.
However, another account from a local resident tells a different story.
According to the resident, the body was not formally handed over by the kidnappers. Instead, it was allegedly discovered abandoned near a sawmill in the Karaduwa area. Local residents reportedly alerted security operatives, who later recovered the remains and transported them under military escort.
As of now, neither the military nor other security authorities have publicly confirmed which version is accurate.
Social Media Claims Add to Uncertainty
The controversy intensified after former senator Dino Melaye claimed on social media that heavily armed bandits personally delivered the body before returning unchallenged to the forest.
His statement generated widespread reactions online, though some observers questioned inconsistencies in the accompanying visuals and the details surrounding the claim.
Family Still Seeking Answers
For the family of the late general, uncertainty remains.
His son, Isyaka Abubakar, disclosed that relatives are still unclear about the circumstances surrounding the recovery of the body.
According to him, many people contacted the family after the funeral announcement seeking clarification, but they had no definitive information to provide.
“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.”
Cause of Death Also Disputed
The family has also challenged the official explanation regarding the cause of General Abubakar’s death.
While Katsina State authorities reportedly stated that he died from complications related to diabetes and hypertension, his son maintained that his father died following a heart attack.
The conflicting narratives surrounding both the cause of death and the recovery of the body have left many unanswered questions. Until security agencies or government officials release a comprehensive account of the events, uncertainty is likely to persist over the final days of the retired military officer’s life and the circumstances surrounding the return of his remains.
