Former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Maharazu Tsiga (rtd.), has regained his freedom after spending 56 harrowing days in captivity.
The retired military officer was kidnapped alongside nine others from his hometown in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State on 5 February 2025.
Tsiga’s release came after his family paid a hefty ransom. While initial reports suggested that ₦60 million was handed over to the kidnappers, fresh findings indicate that the amount was three times higher. Despite receiving the ransom, the abductors held onto Tsiga for another week before contacting his family.
A family source revealed, “The money was taken to them, and it was only after one week, on Tuesday, 11 March, that they called and we heard his voice.”
According to the source, the kidnappers later made additional demands, but the family refused to comply. “Nothing was actually added, and as we speak, they are in Zamfara State, from where they will take the general to Abuja,” he said.
Official Handover
On Thursday, the National Counter Terrorism Centre handed over Tsiga and 18 other rescued kidnap victims to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, in Abuja.
The event marked another milestone in the federal government’s fight against kidnapping and insecurity.
Ribadu, speaking at the event, commended the security agencies for their efforts in securing the release of Tsiga and other victims.
“Thank you for making it possible for us to witness this occasion. This one, in summary, is a thanksgiving event. We have to be grateful to God. We are here once again,” he said.
He assured Nigerians that the perpetrators of these crimes would face justice.
“We will go after the bad ones. This is not the end of the story. These people are rescued. But those perpetrators will pay for it. Dearly,” he vowed.
Military Vows to Crush Criminal Elements
Also speaking at the event, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, reaffirmed the military’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian held in captivity regains freedom.
“I want to assure Nigerians that we will not sleep until every Nigerian is free in this country. And as a warning to all those who don’t mean us well, we will not allow them to sleep well,” he declared.
Musa acknowledged that while progress had been made, the fight against insecurity was far from over.
“One year, ten months, Nigeria is getting better. It’s not going to be automatic. There’s still work to be done. But together as Nigerians, we’ll take this challenge as a Nigerian challenge,” he stated.
Tsiga Recounts Horrific Experience
Following his release, Tsiga gave a chilling account of his time in captivity.
The 72-year-old described the conditions as horrific, revealing that he and other abductees were kept in a dense forest surrounded by hills and dangerous animals.
“We were kept with dangerous animals—hyenas, snakes, and scorpions. A day before I was released, just the day before yesterday, while on the mountain where I was staying, we suddenly noticed a hyena circling us, looking for food. And what kind of food? Us, human beings,” he recounted.
He also disclosed how the terrorists used them as human shields whenever the military launched an attack.
“Whenever troops attacked them, they would bring us out and use us as human shields, hoping to get us killed by the military strikes. They wanted us to be hit by the aircraft. But God is merciful,” he said.
In a particularly chilling moment, he recalled how an unexploded rocket was placed near him in an attempt to cause harm.
“During an airstrike, a rocket was fired at the terrorists, but it didn’t explode. Instead, they carried the unexploded rocket and placed it where I was sleeping, hiding it in a way that if I touched it, it would detonate. Yet, by God’s mercy, I survived,” Gen. Tsiga said.
Why He Was Targeted
Tsiga revealed that his kidnappers believed military officers had access to government funds, which made him a prime target.
“They believe that the government gives those of us in uniform money. That’s why they tried to break into my house. They couldn’t, so they went to my home in Kaduna and used explosives to destroy it, including the gates,” he lamented.
Continued Fight Against Kidnapping
The federal government has reiterated its commitment to tackling insecurity head-on.
NSA Ribadu and Gen. Musa both assured that efforts would not stop until criminal elements are neutralised.
“We are not there yet. But significant achievements have been made under the leadership of our President, Bola Tinubu,” said Ribadu.
“Now the bad people are feeling it. And we will not relent. We are not going to be tired. We will not stop until the end of this. Inshallah. We will continue.”
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