"Our father had no diabetes or high blood pressure" — the family of General Rabe has spoken out against the claims surrounding their father's death.
One of the children of the late retired Major General Abubakar Rabe, Isyaka Rabe, has denied the Katsina State Government's assertion that his father died as a result of complications from diabetes and high blood pressure.
In an interview with Deutsche Welle (DW), Isyaka stated that his father never suffered from diabetes or high blood pressure. He revealed that some people suspect he may have died from a snakebite, based on a final video released by his captors, but he said only Allah knows the true cause of his death.
He described the deceased as a devout man who loved peace and lived a simple life, adding that he died a hero.
Isyaka also said he does not know how his father's body was recovered, stating that only the government can provide an explanation on that matter.
He also denied reports circulating on social media that his mother, who was abducted alongside his father, had been freed, confirming that she remains in the hands of the kidnappers.
On her part, the deceased's daughter, Adda Abubakar, posted on her X account that her father did not have diabetes, emphasizing that a snakebite caused his death.
General Rabe and his wife were abducted on May 30, 2026, on the road from Marabar Musawa to Kafinsoli in the Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. He subsequently died while in captivity.
However, the Katsina State Government has stated that the deceased died from complications of diabetes and high blood pressure, while his family and other sources maintain that a snakebite led to his death.