By Dan Zendesha 

Questions continue to mount over the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was abducted alongside his wife in Katsina State. While authorities attribute his death to health complications, his family strongly disputes the claim, insisting he had no history of diabetes or hypertension and may have died from a snake bite in captivity.

Tensions have intensified over conflicting accounts surrounding the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was kidnapped on May 30, 2026, along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Katsina State.

The Katsina State Government has maintained that the retired military officer died as a result of complications linked to diabetes and hypertension while in captivity. However, his family has firmly rejected that explanation, describing it as inconsistent with his medical history.

Speaking in an interview with Deutsche Welle (DW), the late general’s son, Isyaka Rabe, said the family believes the health-related narrative is misleading. He insisted that his father had no known history of diabetes or hypertension.

The family has instead raised concerns over an alternative theory suggesting the retired officer may have died following a snake bite while being held by his abductors. That claim, according to Isyaka, is partly supported by interpretations of a video reportedly released by the kidnappers, though no official forensic confirmation has been made public.

Despite these assertions, the family acknowledged that the exact circumstances remain unclear.

“Our mother is still in captivity,” Isyaka added, debunking social media claims that she had been freed and calling for caution against misinformation circulating online.

The controversy has also been echoed by another family member, Adda Abubakar, who similarly rejected the diabetes explanation and maintained that a snake bite may have been responsible.

Beyond the cause of death, the family has raised concerns over transparency in the handling of the remains, stating they were not informed about how the body was recovered. They have directed such inquiries to relevant authorities.

The case continues to generate public attention due to its sensitive nature, involving a senior retired military figure and unresolved questions about his final moments in captivity.