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Bandits who abducted retired Director of Defence Information Major-General Rabe Abubakar Batsari and his wife in Katsina State have reportedly rejected ransom demands and are now insisting on a prisoner exchange, marking a significant escalation in the kidnapping saga.
The retired general and his wife were abducted from their residence in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State on June 1. Initial reports indicated that the bandits had made contact and were demanding a ransom.
However, in a new development on Wednesday, sources told Daily Post that the kidnappers have now rejected monetary ransom and are instead demanding the release of their arrested colleagues in exchange for the freedom of the retired general and his wife.
The demand for a prisoner exchange represents a departure from the conventional ransom-driven kidnapping pattern common in the region and signals the bandits’ operational confidence.
The development places additional pressure on security agencies, who now face a complex negotiation situation involving the potential release of detained criminals.
Major-General Batsari served as Director of Defence Information before his retirement and is a well-known figure in Nigeria’s security establishment. His abduction has sparked widespread concern and calls for his safe rescue.
Efforts by security agencies to locate and rescue the retired general and his wife are ongoing.
Sources: Daily Post
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