They Collected Ransom Before Releasing Abubakar’s Body After Informing Govt That He Had died - Sowore

Omoyele Sowore, AAC presidential candidate, spoke about the circumstances surrounding the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar and the reported efforts to secure the release of his remains in a video posted on Symfoni on Monday, June 15, 2026.

Commenting on the case, Sowore alleged that ransom payments were made even after the abductors informed authorities that the former military officer had died while in captivity. He also spoke about reports concerning the release of the late general’s wife, who was reportedly abducted alongside him.

The former presidential candidate argued that the situation reflected the severity of Nigeria’s security challenges and raised concerns about the handling of kidnapping cases across the country.

According to him, “For your information, they collected ransom before they could release his body after they informed the government that he had died in captivity. Then they collected separate ransom before his wife was reportedly released, but I don’t know if the wife has even been released already. But they brought the wife and the body together, and when they got there, they were surrounded by security agents.”

Sowore stated that the alleged payment of ransom for the release of the late general’s body underscores the difficult realities faced by families of kidnapping victims. He suggested that the incident raises questions about the effectiveness of current efforts to combat banditry and abductions.

He further noted that there were conflicting reports regarding the status of the late general's wife, adding that he could not independently confirm whether she had been released. According to him, the body and the woman were reportedly brought together before security personnel arrived at the location.

The AAC presidential candidate maintained that the tragedy highlights the urgent need for stronger measures to address insecurity and protect citizens from criminal groups operating across different parts of the country. He argued that cases involving prominent individuals demonstrate that no one is immune from the threat posed by kidnappers and bandits.