Bandit Kingpin Breaks Silence, Speaks With Family of Abducted Ex-Military General, Reveals Condition for Release

A notorious bandit leader, Kachallah Muhammad, has reportedly established contact with the family of abducted retired military officer, Major General Rabe Abubakar Batsari, raising fresh hopes for his safe return after days in captivity.
Sources told Daily Trust that the feared bandit kingpin, who operates across parts of Katsina State, reached out to the retired general’s relatives on Monday morning and facilitated a conversation with the abducted officer.
Major General Batsari and his wife were kidnapped on Saturday when gunmen ambushed their vehicle along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. Witnesses said the attackers emerged from hiding, opened fire on the vehicle, and whisked the couple into a nearby forest.
Confirming the development, a senior local government official in Batsari, who spoke anonymously due to security concerns, said he personally spoke with the retired general during the conversation arranged by the bandit leader.
“I spoke with Major General Rabe through Kachallah Muhammad. He told us that he is hale and hearty and that his wife is also fine,” the official disclosed.
According to the source, the retired officer assured family members and associates that both he and his wife were being treated well by their captors, providing some relief to worried relatives and residents.
The official further revealed that Kachallah Muhammad used the opportunity to make his demands known, insisting that his relatives allegedly being held by security agencies should be released.
“He said what he wants is the immediate release of his relatives in government custody,” the source stated.
In a surprising twist, the bandit leader also reportedly expressed readiness to return to peace talks, indicating a willingness to engage in negotiations aimed at restoring security in Matazu and surrounding communities.
Meanwhile, relatives and residents of Batsari have continued to express concern over the abduction, describing it as a painful blow to a man widely respected for his military service and community development efforts.
Family members said the retired general and his wife were travelling to Katsina for a wedding when they were kidnapped. They appealed to authorities to intensify efforts to secure their safe and unconditional release.
Security analysts have described the incident as a troubling sign of worsening insecurity in Katsina State, warning that the kidnapping of a retired Major General underscores the growing boldness of armed criminal groups operating across the region.