Rights organisations have condemned the death of Major-General Abubakar Rabe (rtd), who reportedly died while in kidnappers’ custody after weeks in captivity, describing the incident as a grim reflection of Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
The National Coalition Against Mass Killings, Extra-Judicial Killings, Mob Actions and Impunity (NCAMKI) led calls for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible, as well as other members of kidnapping and violent crime networks operating across the country.
The coalition said the late military officer’s death was not only a personal tragedy but a national one, stressing that it raises urgent concerns about the safety of all Nigerians in a country where even senior security figures are not immune to abduction.
According to the group, the incident highlights the growing fear faced daily by farmers, traders, students, workers, women, children, and the elderly, as kidnapping and violent attacks continue to spread across communities.
NCAMKI urged security agencies to carry out a coordinated, intelligence-driven operation aimed at identifying, arresting, and prosecuting all those involved in the crime and related criminal networks. It also called on governments at all levels to address the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, unemployment, weak institutions, and declining public trust.
The group further emphasised the need for justice, institutional reforms, and adherence to constitutional and human rights standards, noting that effective security must go hand-in-hand with accountability. It added that Nigeria must not normalise kidnapping or allow impunity to persist, insisting that decisive action is urgently needed.
Similarly, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) described the killing as a direct attack on the Nigerian state, warning that if a retired general could be abducted and killed, ordinary citizens face even greater danger.
HURIWA commended President Bola Tinubu for rejecting reported terrorist demands but urged the federal government to move beyond statements and adopt a more aggressive national strategy against terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping.
The group called for amendments to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act to classify terrorism, mass kidnapping, and related offences as capital crimes, as well as the establishment of special terrorism courts to speed up prosecution.
It also argued that offenders responsible for mass killings, abductions, and attacks on communities should face the full weight of the law after due process, stating that Nigeria is effectively confronting a war against violent non-state actors.
Other groups, including Prayer and Support for the Nigerian Armed Forces and Other Security Agencies (PASNAFOSA), also expressed condolences, describing the late officer as a dedicated patriot whose death underscores the ongoing threat posed by criminal groups across the country
