Tinubu Rejects Terrorists’ Prisoner-Swap Demand After Rabe Abubakar’s Death

President Bola Tinubu has said the Federal Government will not release detained terrorists or gang members in response to demands made after the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar in captivity.

NaijaTrend earlier reported Abubakar’s death in bandits’ captivity here.

In a statement reported by Daily Trust, Arise News and P.M. News, Tinubu condemned the killing and said the government would not bow to the demand that detained members of the abductors’ group be freed.

“While the terrorists have done their worst, the President wants them to know that the government will never bow to their demand to release their members held by our security agencies,” the statement said.

Tinubu also warned bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terror to surrender or face the full force of the state. He said Abubakar’s death should harden the country’s resolve not to negotiate with terrorists on their terms.

The President condoled with the late officer’s family, especially his wife, who reports said was still being held by the captors. He also sent condolences to the Katsina State Government and the armed forces.

The statement moves the story from a death-in-captivity report to an official security-policy response, with the Presidency using the case to restate its public stance against prisoner-swap pressure from armed groups.

The case is also being watched because prisoner-swap demands have appeared in several abduction cases, raising difficult questions for families of victims and for security agencies under pressure to secure releases without strengthening armed groups.

Sources: Daily Trust; Arise News; P.M. News