Former Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Rabe Abubakar (retd.), and his wife have been abducted by gunmen in Katsina State.

Military sources confirmed the incident on Saturday, saying efforts were underway to secure the release of the retired senior officer and his wife.

A senior military source told journalists that the armed forces had received reports of the abduction and were taking steps to ensure the victims were rescued.

“We have received the sad news of his abduction and that of his wife, and we will act accordingly to ensure he and his wife are rescued,” the source said.

According to information shared on a military veterans’ platform, Abubakar and his wife were kidnapped while travelling to Katsina State.

The message stated that the incident occurred along the Matazu Local Government Area axis of the state.

“Maj. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, former Director of Defence Information, was kidnapped together with his wife on his way to Katsina today. He was kidnapped along Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.

“His driver escaped with a gunshot injury. The senior officer’s Peugeot 406, red in colour, is parked at Matazu Division of the Nigeria Police Force,” the message read.

The driver was reportedly injured by gunfire during the attack but managed to escape.

As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had not issued an official statement on the abduction.