‘Bandits Fed Us Once A Week, Used Us As Shield Against Airstrikes’, Ex-NYSC DG Recounts Ordeal In Captivity

The former director-general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Maharazu Isma’ila Tsiga (retd.), has recounted his ordeal in bandits’ captivity.

LEADERSHIP reported that Tsiga was kidnapped on February 5, 2025, in his hometown of Tsiga, in Bakori local government area of Katsina State, alongside nine other residents.

He was released by his abductors on Tuesday evening after 56 days in captivity somewhere in Zamfara State.

On Thursday evening, Tsiga was, alongside other kidnap victims, reunited with his family members by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, at a brief event in Abuja.

At the occasion, an elated Brig.-Gen. Tsiga (rtd) called on Nigerians to always support security operatives with timely information to tackle insecurity.

He said they were fed once a week by their abductors and that they were beaten and always being used as human shield when military aircraft hovered above the bandits’ location.

He added that they were made to share the same space in the mountains with snakes and other dangerous wild animals.

He was rescued two days ago by security operatives, though unconfirmed reports indicated that ransom was paid for his release.

However, narrating his ordeals in captivity at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on Thursday in Abuja, Tsiga said: “I think if there is anything to be celebrated, it is this kind of situation that is most important to be celebrated. A day before I left there, that is the day before yesterday, on the mountain I was staying, unexpectedly, we just look around, what do we see? Hyena parading around us to get its own food. And which kind of food? We, the human beings. Those of us that experienced that place, we always stayed with snakes, scorpions.”

He continued: “And one bad experience, particularly for those of us who, they knew our rank, whenever they were being attacked, sincerely speaking, they bring us out, so that they can get us out so that the aircraft can hit us. But you know God is merciful. The good ones will continue to live. Wallahi, there is end to the bad ones.”

The retired senior Army officer narrated his close shave with death experience in the bandits’ camp, saying: “when a rocket was sent to us, it did not explode. My bad experience, I’m narrating. What happened? They carried that rocket to where I am sleeping. And they kept it there, hide it so that immediately I come and touch it, it will explode and that is why I told us, God is merciful.”

He said the bandits told him people in government, particularly those in uniform, had money that they stored in their houses.

“And that is why they tried to open my house. They cannot. They have to use explosives to open my house. Now we are being encouraged by calling us here, the NSA, the CDS, which when you call these two, you are talking about President Bola Tinubu.

“To encourage us to make sure that we have confidence, to make sure that we believe in ourselves. And to make sure that God is there for us always.

“Lastly, we should all know that security is a collective responsibility. We should not sit down and believe that the government can do it alone. We must do it ourselves,” he added.

He said the bandits have no fear of God, adding that the only thing the bandits are afraid of was the military aircraft.

“The National Security Adviser, sir, the people are really in fear. One thing I have to say here is that they don’t fear God, but they fear aircraft.They don’t fear God. They tell you, don’t call God for them, just give them money. But immediately they see aircraft, even their cows are running. Therefore, we should try as much as possible in as much as the government is doing the best it can, we should also try to contribute. The NSA is not a magician. The CDS is not a magician. You must bring the information to them, so that they will act on it,” Tsiga added.