The death of former Director of Defence Information (DDI) Maj. Gen. Rabe Abubakar in bandits’ captivity has triggered fresh calls for the Federal Government to declare a national emergency on insecurity.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) said the incident has exposed the expanding reach of criminal groups across Nigeria, despite trillions of naira spent annually on defence.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC said the death of the retired officer showed that even decorated military commanders were no longer safe.
“The death of a retired Major General in captivity is not only a personal tragedy but a national one that reflects the alarming state of insecurity in the country,” Rafsanjani said.
He cited Amnesty International’s April 2026 report, which recorded at least 1,100 abductions between January and April 2026 in northern Nigeria, mostly in rural communities and camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Rafsanjani noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his Democracy Day address, announced N5.41 trillion for defence and security in the 2026 budget, the largest of such allocation in the country’s history.
Despite this, he said, Nigerians have continued to face daily threats from kidnappers, bandits and terrorists.
The CISLAC boss criticised recent remarks by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, that only God can end insecurity in Nigeria. He said such comments showed a lack of urgency from public officials.
He also questioned explanations by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa rtd), who linked delays in military procurement to global conflicts involving Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Iran and the United States.
“Criminal groups operating across Nigeria do not appear to be suffering from shortages of weapons,” Rafsanjani said.
He demanded an independent audit of defence spending at federal and state levels, and called on the National Assembly to strengthen oversight of security budgets.
Separately, the Prayer and Support for the Nigerian Armed Forces and Other Security Agencies (PASNAFOSA) mourned Gen. Abubakar, describing his death as painful and disturbing.
In a statement signed by its Convener, Mrs. Mary Abayomi-Fatile, PASNAFOSA called on the Federal Government and security agencies to identify and prosecute his abductors and their sponsors.
The group also renewed its opposition to amnesty for “repentant” terrorists, citing concerns over the reintegration of former Boko Haram members into communities.