Former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Maharazu Tsiga, who regained freedom from kidnappers’ den on Wednesday after being held for 56 days, has recounted his sad experience in captivity, revealing that hyenas surrounded him and other victims a day before their release.
Tsiga was kidnapped on February 5, 2025, from his hometown of Tisga in the Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday during the handover of 19 rescued hostages to their families, Tsiga narrated the hardships he and others endured while in captivity.
“Unexpectedly, a day before I left, which was the day before yesterday, we looked around on the mountain where I was staying and saw hyenas parading, searching for food. They were looking for human food. Us, the human beings,” he said.
He added that while in captivity, the hostages frequently encountered snakes and scorpions.
Tsiga explained how the abductors used high-profile captives as human shields during aerial attacks.
He said, “Whenever they were being attacked, sincerely speaking, they brought us out so that the aircraft could target us. But you know, God is merciful. The NSA has said it, and the CDS has said it – the good ones will continue to live.”
He narrated a particularly chilling experience when a rocket aimed at them failed to explode.
“They carried that rocket to where I was sleeping and hid it there so that immediately I woke up and touched it, it would explode. But God is merciful,” he said.
According to Tsiga, the kidnappers believed that government officials in uniform always had access to money, which led them to break into his house using explosives.
“I am hypotensive, and the only thing they could use was salt. Even if you are not a doctor, you know that there are foods people with hypertension should not eat. Now, look at me; I cannot climb these steps. It is all as a result of the salt and the beatings we endured.”
Tsiga stressed the importance of collective security efforts, stating, “We should not sit down and believe that the government can do it alone. We must contribute. Security is a collective responsibility.”
He asked civilians to contribute timely and reliable intelligence to security organisations, emphasising that they are not magicians and must rely on excellent information to function efficiently.
Former Deputy Head of Mission in Pretoria, South Africa, Ambassador Gideon Yohana, who was among those released, thanked the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, and security agencies for their efforts to secure their release.
He commended the Federal Government’s cooperation and cited gains in security across various states, including Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, and Niger.
“We know that security forces are working quietly behind the scenes, and it is not an easy task. We also heard while in captivity about the rescue of a general. We thank God that he is also free now. The security agencies are continuing their work to ensure that our nation achieves lasting peace,” Yohana stated.
