Gunmen who abducted former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Maharazu Tsiga, have demanded ₦250 million for his release, a family source confirmed on Sunday.
Tsiga, a retired brigadier-general of the Nigerian Army, was kidnapped from his home in Tsiga town, Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State, on the night of Wednesday, February 5, 2025.
The gunmen also raided several other communities in the nearby Kankara Local Government Area, abducting other residents during the assault.
According to the family source, the kidnappers made contact on Friday, insisting that negotiations for his release would not commence unless the ransom demand of ₦250 million was met.
The Katsina State police spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq, confirmed the incident, revealing that officers had responded to reports of the attack. However, by the time they arrived at the scene, the gunmen had already left. Sadiq added that the attack resulted in two residents sustaining injuries, and one of the kidnappers was reportedly killed by his own gang during the operation.
The kidnapping of Tsiga is the latest in a series of violent incidents involving criminal gangs in Northwestern Nigeria. These groups are known for raiding villages, abducting residents, and demanding hefty ransoms for their release.
Federal lawmaker for Bakori/Danja Federal Constituency, Abdullahi Balarabe, has expressed deep concern over the abduction and called on security agencies to ramp up efforts to ensure the safe return of Tsiga.
The spate of kidnappings in the region continues to raise alarm, with many locals calling for more proactive measures to curb the increasing violence.
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