The son of the late retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, Ishaka Rabe Abubakar, has urged the Katsina State Government to give answers on how his father’s body was recovered.
Ishaka made the demand during an interview on DW Hausa.
Naijaonpoint reports that Abubakar and his wife, Amina, were abducted on May 30 while travelling along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Katsina State.
News of his death stirred widespread reactions, with conflicting accounts emerging over the cause of his death and the circumstances under which his body was recovered.
Speaking during the interview, Ishaka said he had no idea how his father’s corpse was retrieved and urged Nigerians to direct such questions to the Katsina State Government.
“Many people saw the announcement that the funeral prayer would be held at six o’clock. People then asked me, ‘How was the corpse brought back?’ I replied that I cannot answer that question. Rather, the government should be asked about it. Even I myself would like to know how the corpse was brought,” he said.
Speaking on how the family received news of the retired general’s death, Ishaka said they had accepted the development as the will of God and believed that his father died as a martyr.
“Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), we have faith in Allah. We believe that he died as a martyr (shahid). We are certain that, God willing, he will receive Allah’s mercy and reward forever,” he said.
The bereaved son described his father as a humble, religious and peace-loving man who maintained good relationships with everyone around him.
“I can testify that my father was a good man, a believer and a religious person. I am proud of that. Everyone knows that my father never harmed anyone. Alhamdulillah, he lived peacefully with everybody. Whenever he came among people, no one would think of him as someone arrogant or hostile,” Ishaka stated.
Asked to deliver a message to government authorities in light of the tragedy that has befallen his family, Ishaka said that while they were not directly accusing the Katsina State governor of involvement in the incident, leadership entails responsibility for the welfare and protection of citizens.
“As for the government, we do not place ourselves between a person and Allah. Just as no one should tell us otherwise, we should not pass judgment concerning someone’s relationship with Allah. Allah responds directly to anyone who has been wronged and who calls upon Him for justice.
“We are not saying that the governor personally did this or that he is directly responsible for what happened. However, he is the governor. Whoever is given leadership is regarded as a father, a mother and a guardian of the people,” he said.
