Close friends and colleagues of former Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Maharazu Ismail Tsiga, have expressed concern over his continued captivity more than 30 days after his abduction.
Tsiga was kidnapped from his home in Tsiga town, Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State on February 5, 2025.
Speaking at a press conference on behalf of his colleagues, friends, and family, Brigadier General Ismaila Abdullahi (Rtd) dismissed reports claiming Tsiga had been released, labeling them as fake news.
He also questioned the silence of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), despite Tsiga being an active member, and called for more action to secure his release.
He said, “I am here today to speak to you on behalf of Gen. Tsiga’s family, colleagues, friends and associates on his abduction. This has become necessary because of the fake news in the media that the General has been released. General M I Tsiga has not been released as I speak to you today being 7th March, 2025.
“As you are all aware , General M I Tsiga was abducted by people believed to be bandits from his house in Tsiga town, Bakori LGA in Katsina State on 5th February, 2025.
“Today, 7th March 2025, General Tsiga has been in the hands of these bandits (in the bush) for exactly 30 days (one month). Fake news has been going round that Gen. Tsiga has been released. I want to tell you that as of this morning, General Tsiga is still in captivity in the bush.”
He expressed displeasure over the failure of the Federal and Katsina state government to visit and sympathise with his family.
He expressed: “Our political leaders must change their attitudes on leadership and service to the people.
“We the friends, colleagues and associates of General M I Tsiga are still in shock over the complete silence of the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on the abduction of General M I Tsiga. Today General M I Tsiga has been in captivity for 30 days and the leadership of ACF has not deemed it fit to address the issue (at least a press release).
“We are aware that General M I Tsiga is an active member of ACF. The General went missing for 30 days and the leadership of ACF remained quiet, but funny enough the ACF leadership found time and resources to issue a press statement on the scandal between the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on 1st March 2025. This press statement came after our dear General M I Tsiga’s abduction 23 days ago!!.
“We are forced to ask the ACF leadership here which is more important between the abduction of General M I Tsiga and the scandal at the National Assembly. We view this ACF attitude as lucky in empathy. Indeed this ACF leadership attitude in respect to General M I Tsiga was unacceptable. This is not the ACF we envisioned.”
He expressed hope that the Nigerian Army was trying hard to see to the end of this sad episode and reminded the leadership of the Nigerian Army that a visit by few officers from the Army to General Tsiga’s family would have lessened their pains.
The Nation
