The other symbol this week was the kidnap and killing of General Rabe Abubakar (rtd). He was laid to rest in Katsina this week. The retired General was abducted by bandits alongside his wife, along the Marabar Musawa-Kafinsoli road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, on May 30. It was painful because the bandits had circulated video content showing him and his wife at their mercy and suffering from their actions as if to tell the Nigerian State the taunting message that he is in our custody and you cannot save him. He had served the country but the country could not save him when he needed their help. It was another moment of shame for Nigerians who once again lost a very senior officer, a reality that has been happening so many times in recent years. Maybe pushed by the anger of Nigerians against them and the shame they felt, the military made a supreme effort and liberated his wife. That action posed the question we all pose on a daily basis, why did they not act earlier to save him. It was painful reading the statement issued last Saturday by the Defence Headquarters describing late Rabe as a committed officer who contributed immensely to counter-insurgency operations in the country, saying his commitment to duty and unity of Nigeria would continue to remain a shining example for all personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Precisely for these reasons, they should have saved his life.

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