FACT CHECK: Did Bandits release picture on return of Gen Rabe’s Body?
Several social media users shared a viral image purportedly showing heavily armed bandits handing over the body of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe dying in captivity. The retired general, a former Director of Defence Information, was ambushed alongside his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, and their driver, Abdullahi Sa’idu, on May 30, 2026, along the […]
Several social media users shared a viral image purportedly showing heavily armed bandits handing over the body of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe dying in captivity.
The retired general, a former Director of Defence Information, was ambushed alongside his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, and their driver, Abdullahi Sa’idu, on May 30, 2026, along the Marabar Musawa-Kafinsoli Road in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
While the driver escaped with bullet wound, the retired general and his wife were marched into the forest.
In a statement dated June 13, 2026, the Katsina State Government announced his death while in captivity.
- Black Sunday: CAN Demands Urgent Action on Insecurity, Commends Community Policing Bill
- Bandits kill 3, burn houses in Niger – Police
According to the statement signed by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasiru Mu’azu, the retired general died from complications arising from diabetes and hypertension despite efforts by security agencies and the state government to secure his release.
A Facebook page, Native Reporters, posted:
”Heavily armed bandits handed over the body of General Rabe yesterday morning in Katsina and left for neighboring forest of Matazu, unchallenged! The wife is still with the bandit.”
As of the time of this fact-check, the post had generated 138 comments, 108 reactions and 35 shares.
Similarly, an X user, @Tutsy22 (Adetutu Balogun), shared the image with the caption:
”In a sovereign country, terrorists kidnapped, killed, and handed over the body of an Army Major General — and walked away unchallenged.”
The post, published on June 14, 2026, recorded about 6,000 views, 28 replies, 74 reposts, 79 likes and six bookmarks.
The image was also shared by @Laurestar (Lauretta Onochie), who wrote:
”Good Job, Tinubu…. Heavily armed bandits handed over the body of General Rabe yesterday morning in Katsina and left for neighboring forest of Matazu, unchallenged! No consequences. What a country???”
The post attracted about 7,900 views, 63 likes, 44 reposts and three bookmarks. The widespread circulation of the image created the impression that it was an authentic photograph documenting the handover of the late general’s body.
Findings
Daily Trust subjected the image to Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) verification and found no evidence that it is an authentic photograph from the incident.
An AI-detection analysis conducted on the image found it to be 46.6 per cent likely AI-generated, while assigning 0 per cent probability of being a deepfake. The analysis further suggested that the image displayed characteristics commonly associated with artificial intelligence image-generation tools, with GPTImage2 emerging as the most likely source among the models assessed.
Visual examination of the image also revealed several anomalies commonly associated with AI-generated content, including inconsistencies in facial features, body proportions, weapon details and clothing patterns.
Additionally, no credible government agency, security authority or reputable news organisation has published the image as a genuine photograph from the scene.
Official reports also contradict part of the claim. While some social media users alleged that General Rabe’s wife remained in captivity, available reports indicate that Hajiya Amina Abubakar was released alongside the late general’s body.
Although some users disclosed that the image was AI-generated, such disclaimers were often contained only in accompanying captions and not on the image itself, making it possible for the image to be detached from the explanatory text and circulated as a genuine photograph.
Verdict: MISLEADING
The viral image purportedly showing bandits handing over the body of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar is not authentic visual evidence of the incident.
Although some users acknowledged that the image was AI-generated, its circulation without clear and permanent disclosure on the image itself makes it capable of misleading viewers into believing it is a genuine photograph of the reported handover.