The abduction of retired Major General Maharazu Tsiga, former Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), by suspected terrorists has sparked widespread concern.
The incident occurred late Wednesday night at his residence in Tsiga, Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The attack, which left two residents dead and three others injured, has thrown the community into confusion, with some locals fleeing the area.
Confirming the abduction, Katsina Police Command spokesperson DSP Abubakar Sadiq noted that Tsiga and five others were taken. “Efforts are being intensified in collaboration with sister security agencies and all relevant stakeholders to ensure they are rescued unhurt,” he assured.
Reactions from Katsina Elders, CSO, and Security Experts
The Secretary of the Katsina State Elders Forum, Alhaji Aliyu Sani Mohammed, expressed deep concern about the abduction.
“It’s very unfortunate. Despite Governor Malam Dikko Radda’s efforts to tackle insecurity, these incidents persist. I sincerely pray that Almighty Allah will rescue General Tsiga from the hands of these wicked people,” he said.
He described Tsiga as a philanthropic figure who chose to stay with his community to assist the needy. “How many people of his caliber live among their people like this? It’s truly sad,” he lamented, expressing hope for the retired general’s swift release.
The Katsina State Chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Mr. AbdulRahman Abdullahi, called for increased federal intervention.
“This crisis has lingered for too long. While the state government is trying its best, the federal government controls the army, police, and other key security agencies. Their involvement is crucial,” he emphasized.
He criticized the reactive nature of security operations, urging authorities to act on intelligence reports to prevent attacks. “In most cases, communities report bandit movements hours before attacks, but responses are inadequate,” he revealed.
AbdulRahman urged the federal government to deploy adequate resources to address the security crisis proactively.
Ibrahim Ahmed-Katsina, a former Special Adviser on Security to the Katsina State Governor and ex-Director of the Department of State Security (DSS), stressed the importance of community involvement.
“The community must step up and support security forces. Without collective action, everyone becomes a potential victim,” he warned.
He highlighted the need for community policing under government regulation. “We need organized community vigilance efforts, not unregulated self-defense. With training and collaboration, communities can play a vital role in their own security,” he noted.
Ahmed-Katsina emphasized that security forces alone cannot cover every location, urging communities to liaise with security agents. “If we all do the needful, we can overcome these challenges. May God rescue General Tsiga,” he prayed.
