Gunmen suspected to be bandits have kidnapped Major General Mahrazu Tsiga (retired), the former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), alongside several other residents of Tsiga village in Kankara Local Government Area, Katsina State. The abduction occurred on Wednesday when the armed assailants, wielding sophisticated weapons, stormed Tsiga’s residence.
According to a resident who confirmed the incident to journalists in a phone call on Thursday, the attack was brief but violent. Eyewitnesses said Tsiga was among those taken by the attackers, and during the raid, two residents were injured. One of the assailants also died after being accidentally shot by his own colleagues.
Despite the alarming nature of the abduction, the Katsina State Government and police authorities have yet to release an official statement on the incident. This comes as Katsina continues to face a severe security threat from bandit groups who operate across several states in the North-West and North-Central regions, including Zamfara, Kaduna, and Niger.
These criminal gangs, who have established camps in expansive forests across these regions, have gained notoriety for their mass kidnappings, particularly of students from schools. In response to this growing threat, the Katsina State Government under Governor Dikko Umar Radda launched the Katsina Community Watch Corps (KCWC) in 2023, comprising around 2,000 local vigilantes to support the military and police in combating the bandits.
Governor Radda has made it clear that his administration will not negotiate with criminals. During a visit by Major General Ibikunle Ademola Ajose, the General Officer Commanding 8 Division, and Commander of the Joint Task Force Northwest Operation, to the Katsina Government House on January 22, the governor stated that peace negotiations with bandits could only be pursued under strict conditions. He emphasized the importance of community involvement in peacebuilding, expressing readiness to support any genuine efforts at repentance and reintegration.
The governor reiterated the state’s commitment to investing heavily in security, noting that Katsina has made substantial strides in strengthening its security infrastructure. He also assured that the state would provide resources for the reintegration of repentant bandits, including support for livestock management, to help them become productive members of society.
Governor Radda also highlighted the success of collaborative security efforts, including operations led by the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Nigerian Police Force, and the newly established Katsina Community Watch Corps, which have contributed to improvements in the state’s security.
Major General Ajose, who was in Katsina for his first-quarter operational visit to states under the 8th Division, discussed the newly launched Operation Safe Northwest. This initiative aims to mobilize communities, enhance security operations, and promote sustainable peace in the region. Ajose reiterated that the Nigerian Army would not engage in negotiations with criminals, emphasizing a holistic approach to tackling the persistent issue of banditry.
The meeting was attended by several state officials, including Deputy Governor Faruk Jobe, Chief of Staff AbdulKadir Mamman Nasir, and Principal Private Secretary Abdullahi Aliyu Turaji.
