General’s son rejects diabetes claim over father’s death

Isyaka Rabe, a son of the late Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar (retd), has refuted claims by the Katsina State Government that his father died from diabetes and high blood pressure. In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Isyaka stated that his father had no prior history of these conditions. He suggested that the late general might have died from a heart attack or possibly a snake bite, emphasizing that the ultimate cause of death is known only to God.

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I truly don’t believe it was diabetes. In our view, it was a heart attack. If you look at it, his legs were restrained. Moreover, some people said that he was walking, and he didn’t die, so God knows, since only God is the knower.

Isyaka described his father as a deeply religious and peace-loving individual who lived a simple life and died a hero. He expressed uncertainty about the circumstances surrounding the recovery of his father's body, directing such inquiries to the government. Adding to the family's distress, Isyaka confirmed that his mother, who was abducted alongside his father on May 30, 2026, is still being held captive. He dismissed circulating social media reports of her release as false.

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When I announced the time for my father’s funeral prayer, many people began asking how the body was recovered. I told them I did not know and that they should direct such questions to the government.

The former Army spokesperson, Maj Gen Rabe, and his wife were abducted in Katsina State. The kidnappers had demanded the release of three detained fighters and the return of seized livestock for their freedom, as conveyed in a video released on June 6. The Katsina State Government confirmed Abubakar's death on Saturday, calling it a tragic loss and attributing it to complications from diabetes and hypertension. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticized the Federal Government's security measures following the general's death, stating that no Nigerian is safe.

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Whoever says she (mother) has been released, I, Isyaka Rabe, son of Major General Rabe, I say that is a lie; she has not been released. Right now, she is still in their custody.