The Boys Who Abducted Rabe Didn’t Even Know Who He Was Until We Started Saying That’s Gen Rabe–Ahmed

Hakeem Baba Ahmed, National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), has said that the armed men who abducted retired General Rabe Abubakar and his wife may not have known his identity at the time of the kidnapping.

Speaking during an interview on Trust TV, Ahmed argued that Nigeria should stop referring to such criminal groups simply as bandits, describing them instead as organized networks that pose a serious threat to national security.

He expressed concern over the country’s worsening insecurity and questioned why the Nigerian military, which he described as one of the best in the world, has struggled to effectively tackle the problem.

Ahmed said Nigeria’s military had demonstrated its strength in the past, citing instances where it acted swiftly in regional security matters.

Referring to the abduction and death of the retired general, Ahmed questioned why security forces were unable to secure his release before his death. 

He suggested that if the general’s wife was eventually rescued, stronger action should have been taken earlier to prevent the tragedy.

According to him, some accounts indicated that the kidnappers did not initially realize they had captured a high-profile military figure. 

He said public discussions identifying the victim as General Rabe may have alerted the abductors to the importance of their captive, making the situation even more complicated.

In his words, "Some people said the boys who kidnapped him didn't even know who he was until we started saying, 'Oh, that is General Rabe,' and then they say, 'Oh, we have a big fish in our hands."