Troops Rescue Wife of Slain Former Defence Spokesman From Bandits

The Nigerian military on Monday narrated how troops of Operation FASAN YAMMA, supported by Nigerian Air Force, rescued Mrs. Amina Abubakar, wife of the late Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information (DDI), from the den of bandits.

The rescue came after weeks of gruelling search-and-rescue operations launched after Mrs. Abubakar was abducted along with her husband by armed bandits, the military said.

The military said the troops continued to pressure the criminal group through a series of offensive operations and intelligence-driven missions to locate the kidnappers and free the victim.

Director Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said troops made contact with the bandits at Tunga Village during one of the operations, which was the breakthrough.

The military said the bandits shot Mrs Abubakar and left her behind before fleeing when the troops closed in on their position and came under overwhelming pressure from the security forces.

The troops immediately cordoned off the area and rescued the victim, thereby ending her ordeal of captivity.

She was evacuated from the scene and taken to a military hospital for urgent medical care.

Mrs Abubakar is responding well to treatment and remains under close medical supervision, the Armed Forces said.

The military leadership has further assured that all the required support is being extended to her and her family to ensure her complete recovery.

The late Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Defence spokesman and a senior military officer, and his wife were abducted in an incident that raised concerns and condemnation across the board.

Following the abduction, troops of Operation FASAN YAMMA intensified efforts to track down the kidnappers with ground operations, aerial surveillance and support from the Nigerian Air Force.

The armed forces would intensify their operations to track down and neutralize those behind the abduction and continue to rid Katsina State and other parts of the country of terrorists and bandits, the Armed Forces said, quoting Major General Uba.