Colleagues of Late Gen. Rabe Demand Stronger Action Against Insecurity
Colleagues, friends and associates of the late Major General Rabe Abubakar (Rtd) have called for urgent reforms of Nigeria’s security architecture following his death in the hands of bandits, describing the tragedy as a stark reflection of the country’s worsening insecurity.
Addressing a press briefing on Thursday, the group expressed profound grief over the death of the retired senior military officer, who was kidnapped alongside his wife, Hajia Amina Rabe Abubakar, in the Matazu area of Katsina State. While his wife was later rescued, General Abubakar died in captivity.
The group, represented by retired Brigadier General Ismaila Abdullahi, Ambassador A. Mohammed Musawa and retired Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, described the late general as a distinguished officer whose military career was marked by loyalty, integrity and dedicated service to Nigeria.
They acknowledged the efforts of both the Federal Government and the Katsina State Government in securing the release of his wife and commended President for condemning the killing and reiterating his administration’s commitment to combating terrorism and kidnapping.
However, the group said General Abubakar’s death highlights a broader national security crisis that has left many Nigerians vulnerable to banditry, terrorism and kidnappings.
According to them, the persistent abduction of citizens, including schoolchildren, has become a national tragedy that continues to erode public confidence in government’s ability to protect lives and property. They warned that insecurity has spread across the country to the extent that it is increasingly difficult to distinguish between conflict zones and peaceful regions.
The speakers urged Nigerians to avoid politicising insecurity or reducing it to ethnic and regional narratives, stressing that terrorism, banditry and kidnapping are national challenges requiring collective action and honest introspection.
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They argued that successive administrations have struggled to effectively tackle insecurity due to weak implementation of policies, inadequate coordination and insufficient political will. The group therefore called for the strengthening of Nigeria’s security institutions, improved funding for security operations and a more proactive approach to counterinsurgency efforts.
While cautiously welcoming ongoing security cooperation between Nigeria and international partners, including the United States, they maintained that the responsibility for safeguarding the country ultimately rests with Nigeria.
“No nation can defend our country for us,” the group stated, adding that foreign assistance can only complement, not replace, a strong national security framework.
The group also advocated enhanced border security and stronger regional cooperation with neighbouring countries, including , , and , to curb the illegal flow of arms fueling terrorism and banditry.
On the growing calls for citizens to arm themselves for self-defence, the associates urged caution, warning that any such policy must be carefully regulated to prevent further proliferation of weapons across the country.
They further called on the 19 Northern governors to develop and implement a coordinated regional security policy aimed at tackling illegal arms possession, terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in the region.
Drawing lessons from international experiences, the group cited the decisive responses of the Italian and Sri Lankan governments to terrorism as examples of the political will needed to defeat violent criminal groups. They urged Nigerian leaders at all levels to demonstrate similar determination in confronting insecurity.
The associates also appealed to governments to provide prompt support to families of serving and retired military personnel who die in service or become victims of kidnapping and terrorism. They urged authorities to intensify efforts to secure the release of all Nigerians currently held captive and to sustain measures aimed at ending terrorism, banditry and kidnapping nationwide.
General Abubakar’s death has drawn widespread concern across the country, with many viewing the incident as a sobering reminder of the persistent security challenges confronting Nigeria.
By PRNigeria
