Senate orders crackdown on bandits flaunting crime cash on TikTok

By News Desk

Prime Brief Media | June 15, 2026

KATSINA, NIGERIA — Troops of the Nigerian Army, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, have successfully rescued Mrs. Amina Abubakar, the wife of the late Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was abducted by bandits alongside her husband several weeks ago.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) announced the rescue on Monday, June 15, 2026, confirming that the operation followed intensified search-and-rescue efforts by troops of Operation FASAN YAMMA.

The rescue took place at Tunga Village in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, where troops made contact with the bandits during sustained offensive operations and pressure mounted on the criminal elements.

“In the course of the encounter, the bandits shot Mrs. Abubakar before abandoning her and fleeing due to the overwhelming pressure from advancing troops,” the military said in a statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba.

According to military sources, Mrs. Abubakar was bleeding heavily when troops found her. She was stabilised at the scene with first aid before being evacuated to a military medical facility for urgent treatment.

“Mrs. Abubakar was immediately evacuated and is currently receiving medical attention at a military hospital, where she is responding to treatment,” Major General Uba stated.

The rescue comes just days after the death of Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was abducted alongside his wife on May 30, 2026, along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu LGA. The retired general, a former Director of Defence Information, died in captivity on June 13 from complications related to underlying health conditions.

A video had surfaced on June 6 showing the couple appealing to the Katsina State Government to release detained bandits and their livestock to secure their freedom. The government continued efforts to negotiate their release, but the general’s health declined while in custody.

On Saturday, June 13, bandits released the general’s remains to state authorities, who laid him to rest at the Gidan Dawa Cemetery in Katsina. His wife remained in captivity until Monday’s rescue.

The military has vowed to sustain operations aimed at apprehending those responsible for the abduction and other criminal activities in the region.

“Troops will continue ongoing operations to track down and neutralise the perpetrators, while intensifying efforts to rid affected communities of terrorists not just in Katsina but in the entire nation,” Major General Uba said.

The Armed Forces of Nigeria also assured the public that all necessary support would be provided to ensure Mrs. Abubakar’s full recovery and to assist her family during this difficult period.

The rescue was part of Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, a major offensive launched by the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, following the abduction and death of the retired general. The operation targets terrorist and bandit groups operating in Matazu LGA and adjoining communities, with troops conducting aggressive fighting patrols, intelligence-led raids, and clearance missions across identified criminal hideouts.