By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

Retired military officers and associates of the late Major General Rabe Abubakar have cautioned Nigerians against ethnicising the country’s security challenges, insisting that terrorism, banditry and kidnapping have become nationwide threats affecting all regions.

The group made the call on Thursday in Kaduna during a press briefing held in honour of the late general, who died while in bandits’ captivity after being abducted alongside his wife near Matazu in Katsina State.

Speaking on behalf of the retired officers, Brigadier General Ismaila Abdullahi (rtd) said insecurity in Nigeria should not be framed through ethnic or regional lenses, warning that such narratives only deepen national divisions and weaken collective efforts to address the crisis.

He noted that kidnapping and terrorism were no longer confined to any part of the country, stressing the need for a unified national response rather than “selective outrage.”

“These incidents of insecurity have attracted not only condemnation but also ethnic coloration, with some commentators blaming the northern region for all the ills of the Nigerian state,” Abdullahi said.

He questioned what he described as inconsistent public reactions to insecurity across the country, asking whether any region could truly claim immunity from the growing threat of kidnappings and terrorism.

Other retired officers present at the briefing included Ambassador A. Mohammed Musawa, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd), Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga (rtd), Ambassador Ibrahim Usman Gafai and Brigadier General Abdulkadir Abubakar (rtd).

The group described General Abubakar’s death as a painful reminder of Nigeria’s worsening security situation, noting that his killing in captivity reflected broader weaknesses in the nation’s security architecture.

While acknowledging the efforts of both the Federal Government and Katsina State Government—particularly the rescue of the late officer’s wife, Hajia Amina Rabe Abubakar—the officers said more proactive measures were needed to curb the rising wave of insecurity.

They argued that ethnic rivalry, religious intolerance and weak national cohesion had further complicated the crisis, calling for stronger collaboration among stakeholders at all levels of government.

The retired officers also urged the 19 Northern Governors to develop a coordinated regional security framework to address banditry, kidnapping and the proliferation of illegal arms.

Reiterating their position, they stressed that Nigeria’s security challenge requires a united national approach devoid of ethnic blame, warning that failure to do so would continue to undermine peace and development.