Bandits have reportedly kidnapped the former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brgd-Gen. Maharazu Tsiga (rtd), in Tsiga village, Bakori local government area of Katsina State.
Tsiga, was kidnapped alongside nice other residents of Tsiga village, in Kankara local government area of Katsina State on Wednesday night.
According to a relative of Tsiga, who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, yesterday said that the terrorists attacked the community at about 11:30p.m, and moved straight into the residence of the former Army general, after shooting sporadically. He further said the terrorists shot three members of the community, including the two sons of Tsiga’s neighbour before abducting him and nine other members to adjoining forests in the area.
The source said those who sustained injuries during the attack were receiving treatment at the Comprehensive Healthcare Centre in the community, “but we are planning to transfer them to Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, due to the gravity of their injuries”.
He said: “During the attack, General Maharazu Ibrahim Tsiga pleaded to give them all what they wanted, but the bandits declined his request and kidnapped him. They abducted nine other residents of the community”.
Tsiga, according to family sources, has been battling with undisclosed illness since he left office. When asked about Tsiga’s family, the source said: “You know his family are not here with him. Only some of his relatives and personal security guards were with him during the attack; but the bandits kidnapped only him at the residence”.
Katsina is one of several States in the North-Western and North-Central region that is terrorised by bandits, who raid villages, kill and abduct residents, as well as burn and loot homes. The gangs, who maintain camps in a huge forest straddling Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger States, have earned notoriety for mass kidnappings of students from schools in recent years.
Recall that in 2023, Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umar Radda, established Katsina Community Watch Corps (KCWC) comprising around 2,000 vigilantes to assist the military and Police in fighting the gangs.
Meanwhile, Governor Radda said that his administration would not negotiate with criminal elements perpetuating evil acts in the State.
