In a brazen attack, over 100 armed assailants stormed the residence of retired Major General Maharazu Tsiga, former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), in Tsiga village, Katsina State, on the night of February 5, 2025. The attackers abducted Gen. Tsiga and nine others, subsequently demanding a ₦250 million ransom for his release.
Eyewitnesses reported that the gunmen surrounded the house and began breaking doors, prompting Gen. Tsiga to confront them before being taken captive. A source close to the family, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the kidnappers have contacted them with the ransom demand.
Security agencies have launched a manhunt to rescue the abducted individuals. The Katsina State Police Command has assured the public that they are collaborating with relevant stakeholders and other security agencies to ensure the victims’ safe return.
Gen. Tsiga, born in 1957 in Tsiga, Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State, served as the 14th Director-General of the NYSC, assuming the role in January 2009. His abduction underscores the escalating security challenges in Nigeria’s northern regions, where kidnappings for ransom have become increasingly prevalent.
