The abductors of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, former Director of Defence Information, and his wife released a video on Saturday showing the couple in captivity.
The couple were abducted along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, near Zakin Baure village.
In the four-minute video circulated on social media, the wife of the retired general was seen conveying the abductors’ demands, Daily Trust reports.
The demands included the release of three of their members identified as Sani, Aminu and Nasiru, as well as the return of livestock allegedly seized from them.
According to her account, two of the detained individuals were arrested in Jikamshi while the third was arrested in Kano.
She also appealed to the Katsina State Government and leaders of five local government areas to facilitate compliance with the demands to secure their release.
The retired general, who spoke briefly in the video, called for efforts to ensure peace, adding that the abductors had expressed interest in dialogue and peaceful coexistence.
Daily Trust also reports that notorious bandit leader Kachallah Muhammad, who operates in parts of Katsina State, had reportedly established communication with the family of the retired general.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Katsina State Government nor security agencies had issued an official statement on the video.