- Safiu Kehinde
Abductors of a former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), General Maharazu Tsiga (Rtd), have demanded a sum of N250 million ransom for his release.
Tsiga was kidnapped on Wednesday alongside several other residents of Tsiga village in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.
A source close to the family who doesn’t want his name to be mentioned, disclosed to Channels TV correspondent on Saturday that the family of the victim was contacted last night by the kidnapper’s ringleader and requested the said amount.
Earlier confirming the incident on Thursday, a resident of the community narrated how the hoodlums armed with sophisticated weapons invaded the residence of the former NYSC Director General.
In the course of the operation which lasted for a few minutes, two residents were wounded and one of the hoodlums died after being mistakenly shot by his colleagues.
Confirming the abduction of the ex-NYSC DG on Friday, the Katsina State Police Command assured that it is on top of the situation and is in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders and other security agencies in the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Abubakar Sadiq, disclosed this during a press briefing held at the Command Headquarters to review crime fighting achievements recorded in the previous month of January 2025.
According to him, a total of 45 suspects have been arrested in connection with various crimes within the period.
The Command spokesman also recalled that, on Thursday evening, information was received at the Bakori divisional police headquarters of the suspected activities of some suspected armed bandits where they attacked Tsiga Village and immediately, operatives responded to the scene to rescue the situation.
“Unfortunately, before the arrival of the operatives, the hoodlums already succeeded in their mission”, he added.