Kidnapping: List of Influential Former Generals Who Have Been Killed, Tortured
- Nigeria has been faced with the challenges of insecurity for decades, with hundreds of lives lost and millions of properties destroyed
- Several serving military and other personnel of the country's security operatives have been killed, including retired generals
- The lingering insecurity has become a major topic of discussion in the country ahead of the 2027 general elections
Since 2015, insecurity has become one of the key issues shaping the political landscape of the country, particularly during elections. While hundreds of thousands of civilians and security operatives have been killed, retired generals, who are supposed to be enjoying their retirement, have also been hit.
The affected retired generals have either been killed, tortured, harassed, or forced to pay ransom from their retirement benefits, as well as donations from friends and loved ones, to stay alive.
Source: Twitter
Below is a list of some of the retired generals according to ThisDay:
Major General Rabe Abubakar
Abubakar was the former director of defence information, but was abducted along with his wife in their vehicle while they were travelling towards Katsina on Saturday, May 30, 2026, to an unknown place.
Their driver was said to have escaped with gunshots and reportedly received treatment in a hospital. Maj-Gen Abubakar headed the media arm of the Defence Headquarters from 2015 to 2017. As of the time of writing this report, he is yet to be released.
Source: Twitter
Brigadier-General Maharazu Tsiga
Tsiga was the former director general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). He was abducted in his hometown in Bakori local government area of Katsina state along with nine civilians on February 2, 2026.
Reports indicated that the sum of N60 million was paid in ransom, while some sources indicated that the actual money paid was three times higher than what was reported.
Source: Twitter
Major General Idris Alkali
General Alkali was reportedly kidnapped and killed in 2018 when he was travelling between Abuja and Bauchi state.
He was attacked and killed on Jos Road by some protesters. His phone, laptop and cash were stolen by the protesters. His remains were later found in October 2018 in an abandoned well in Guchwet, Shen, Jos South LGA of Plateau. The youths were said to be protesting the gunmen's attacks in their community on September 2.
Source: Depositphotos
Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh
Badeh was the former Chief of Defence Staff who was assassinated in December 2018 during an ambush. He was returning from his farm along the Abuja-Keffi Road when the assailants opened fire on his vehicle.
Before his retirement, he had championed the operations that led to the killing of several members of the Boko Haram terrorist group.
Major Gen. Richard Duru
The retired general was abducted in September 2023, and nothing has been heard about his whereabouts since then.
General Duru had served as the security adviser to the Imo State governor before his abduction along the Bishops Court, Area 7, Orji/Uratta, in the Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo.
Below is the list of other important retired generals who have been hit by insecurity:
S/N | Name | Date | Status |
1 | Major Gen. Hassan Ahmed | July 15, 2021 | Killed by gunmen at Lokoja-Abuja road |
2 | Major Gen. Peter Ademokhai | April 9, 1994 | Killed in an armed robbery attack in Edo |
3 | Major Gen. Joseph Aondo | June 14, 2007 | Killed in Abuja by gunmen |
4 | Major Gen. Edet Akpan | January to February 2010 | Held captive and later freed. Akwa Ibom |
5 | Major Gen. Mohammed Shuwa | November 2, 2012 | Killed by suspected Boko Haram members in Borno |
6 | Major Gen. Peter Unuode | March 20, 2013 | Kidnapped, blindfolded, and chained in Delta by gunmen |
7 | Brig. Gen. Umar Uwuigbe | September 20, 2011 | Hacked to death in Badagry, Lagos |
8 | Brig. Gen. Sylvester K. Iruh | April 2012 | Killed by suspected hoodlums at Berger Bridge, Lagos |
9 | Brig. Gen. Harold Udokwere | June 2024 | Killed by armed robbers at his residence in Abuja |
10 | Col. Samaila Inusa | March 2016 | Killed by bandits on Abuja-Kaduna Road |
List of world-wanted terrorists killed in Nigeria
Legit.ng earlier reported that the United States President Donald Trump, on Saturday, May 16, 2026, announced that American forces, in conjunction with the Nigerian military, had killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a terrorist leader, who was said to be the second global leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
It was learnt that the operation was carried out around the Lake Chat basin, an area known as a terrorist spot in the country. This would be the second military operation in the country in the space of six months.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
