A former Director of Defence Information, Major General Rabe Abubakar (retd.), and his wife have been abducted by suspected armed bandits in Katsina State.
The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday along the Matazu axis of the state while the retired senior military officer and his wife were travelling to Katsina.
According to reports, armed attackers intercepted their vehicle and forcefully took the couple away to an unknown destination.
A security source told Sahara Reporters that the driver of the vehicle was also attacked during the incident but managed to escape despite sustaining a gunshot wound.
The source added that the vehicle used by the retired general, a red Peugeot 504, was later recovered and taken to the Matazu Divisional Police Headquarters.
An informal security message circulating among military contacts, allegedly shared by retired Brigadier General Sagir Musa, also confirmed the abduction of the retired officer and his wife.
The message urged security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the safe release of the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
As of the time of filing this report, security authorities had not issued an official statement on the incident, while efforts to locate the retired general and his wife were said to be ongoing.
The latest abduction highlights the persistent security challenges facing parts of north-west Nigeria, where bandit attacks and kidnappings for ransom have continued despite ongoing military and security operations in the region.