By Ayodele Oni
Retired military officers have advised that the death of General Rabe Abubakar in bandits’ den should serve as a wake-up call for government and security agencies to rethink current strategies against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
They maintained that Rabe’s death has exposed serious weaknesses in the country’s security system.
The retired officers, who are also associates of the late Major General Rabe Abubakar (rtd) called for a more proactive and realistic approach to tackling insecurity in Nigeria, saying many previous measures have either failed or delivered limited results.
The retired officers made the call during a press conference in Kaduna in honour of the retired general, who died after being abducted by bandits in Katsina State.
The retired army general was abducted alongside his wife, Hajiya Amina Rabe, by bandits on May 30 in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
He later died in captivity, and his body was released by the bandits to state officials. He was buried in Katsina last Saturday in accordance with Islamic rites.
A few days after his death, his wife regained her freedom following a military operation in Katsina State.
Speaking on behalf of the retired military officers, Brigadier General Isma’ila Abdullahi (rtd) observed that seeking foreign assistance to tackle insecurity might not achieve the desired aim.
Among those present at the briefing were Brigadier General Abubakar Abdulqadir (rtd), Brigadier General M.I. Tsiga (rtd), Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd), Ambassador Ibrahim Usman Gafai and Ambassador Ahmed Muhammad Musawa.
Abdullahi described the late general’s death as a painful reminder of the worsening security situation in the country.
“Our colleague, friend and brother, Major General Rabe Abubakar, died after being abducted by bandits. His death has left us shocked and deeply saddened,” they added.
The retired officers commended the Federal and the Katsina State Governments for efforts that led to the rescue of the deceased’s wife, Hajiya Amina Rabe Abubakar.
They pointed out that restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s security institutions would require stronger leadership, better coordination and a comprehensive strategy focused on preventing attacks before they occur.
“The time has come for a more realistic and proactive response to insecurity. Nigerians deserve to live without fear, and the government must act with greater urgency to make that possible.”
According to them, insecurity has spread beyond any particular region and should no longer be viewed through ethnic, religious or political lenses.
They cautioned Nigerians against blaming the North alone for the country’s security challenges, noting that kidnappings, terrorism and banditry now affect virtually all parts of the country.
“Security is a national problem that requires a national solution. We must stop giving it ethnic or regional colouration.”
The retired officers argued that the current security situation demands fresh thinking and stronger political commitment.
They identified weak cooperation among stakeholders, ethnic divisions, religious intolerance and inadequate political will as some of the factors hindering efforts to defeat criminal groups.
Governments at all levels, they added must move from reacting to attacks to preventing them through intelligence gathering, early warning systems and stronger security institutions.
The group called for greater investment in intelligence operations, improved coordination among security agencies and stronger border controls to curb the inflow of illegal weapons.
They also urged the 19 northern governors to work together on a regional security framework to address banditry, kidnapping and the proliferation of small arms.
While welcoming security cooperation between Nigeria and foreign partners, including the United States, the retired officers stressed that the responsibility for protecting Nigerians rests primarily with Nigerian authorities.
“No nation can secure Nigeria for us. International cooperation is important, but Nigeria must take the lead in securing its citizens,” they stated.
The former military officers also advocated greater support for community-based security structures, particularly in rural areas where many attacks occur.
According to them, vigilante groups and local security volunteers should be properly trained, supervised and equipped to complement the efforts of conventional security agencies.
“When heavily armed criminals attack communities, local defenders cannot be expected to confront them with inadequate equipment.
“Communities can organise and train selected youths under proper supervision to support security efforts.”
However, they warned against uncontrolled distribution of weapons, insisting that any community security arrangement must operate under strict regulations.
The group also called on state governments to strengthen the proposed forest guard initiative through adequate recruitment, training, logistics and operational support.
On the debate over state police, the retired officers expressed support for the idea, but added only states with the financial and institutional capacity to sustain such outfits should establish them
