Muazu Hassan
@Katsina Times
A special investigation by KATSINA TIMES has confirmed that a joint operation by security agencies has raided the hideout where the former Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga (rtd), was being held in captivity by bandits but he could not be rescued.
Bandits abducted General Tsiga on 5th of February, 2025, in his hometown of Tsiga in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Katsina Elders Forum (KEF) have urged the military and other security agencies to do everything possible to rescue General Tsiga from the custody of bandits.
A reliable source told KATSINA TIMES that the attack was planned, with the aim of forcing them to disperse to provide the abducted persons an opportunity to run into the trenches of the forest where security operatives had positioned themselves in strategic places to rescue them and move them to safety.
Investigation revealed that the planned attack was successful, they even accurately mapped the area where Tsiga was being held captive. In that operation, many armed bandits were neutralized which enabled the kidnap victims to run away to a safe place where soldiers were waiting to for them to escort them to safety.
As planned all those who escaped were found by security agencies who had laid ambush and position themselves at strategic points to rescue the victims.
Our source within the security circle told us that among those who escaped and were rescued by the military was one of those who are kidnapped alongside Gen. Tsiga.
One of those who what's in custody together with Gen. Tsiga told him the security operatives who rescued them he was when they saw an unmanned surveillance jet hoovering over the sky."Then we saw fighter jets, the bandits immediately dispersed and we started running", he said.
He narrated that he was with general speaker when they started trying to escape,but then I'll see him, said he could no longer walk to a distance.
He said "I tried my best the plead with him to escape, I told him look at the sky fighter jets hovering above, we can walk to safety without any fear that the bandits will return, due to age and the harsh circumstances in the forest, he said you could neither walk or run."
He said "when I realized that he could not come with me I kept running until I found myself in the hands of military operatives, that was how I was able to escape, I left Gen. Tsiga there.
KATSINA TIMES has confirmed that this person that was kidnapped alongside Gen. Tsiga has gone back to Tsiga to reunite with family, friends and neighbours, and has confirmed to us everyday detail of our investigation.
A reliable source disclosed that since after the abduction of Gen. Tsiga, the Katsina State government has been working with the federal security agencies to ensure that he regains his freedom.
On the night he was abducted, members of the Katsina Community Watch Corps were in Tsiga town on patrol, when they learned that he would pass the night there they left the town. However after they left, the bandits attacked, this indicates that informants had communicated with the bandits.
The abduction was carried out by three bandit gangs, Guddal, Ɗanduna and Babaro gangs.
They first kept him in captivity between Faskari and Kankara forest
"We were closely monitoring the developments, we were gathering information, but just as we were about to attack the area we learned that they had relocated him to Danmusa forest", said a security agent that was familiar with efforts to rescue Gen. Tsiga.
"Information available to us confirmed that he was kept around Dutsen Ɗinya, in a thick forest with mountains within Danmusa where Buzare, Larbi and Manore are in charge".
“Intelligence and satellite information confirmed that there was a bandit gang with heavy weapons there, likely guarding some captives. We immediately planned an attack that would not harm the detainees. We killed many of the bandits, and some of the abducted persons fled, but we discovered that General Tsiga was not among those that ran to us so that we could rescue them” said a soldier in the formation that carried out the operation, who did not want to be named.
Another member of the security team told us that "we heard a voice on the phone from one of the bandits telling some of his gang members that General Tsiga was with them at Dargaza Mountain in Maidabino area of Danmusa Local Government Area.
“This voice prompted an investigation and we later confirmed it to be true, then we immediately started planing to attack the area to get rid of the bandits and rescue everyone, including General Tsiga.
"Satellite, drone and surveillance images confirmed the map of the area," said a senior official involved in the operation.
On the day of the planned attack, no one knew except those who were involved in the operation because it was confirmed that General Tsiga was there.
Six helicopters and drone were deployed to the area while ground forces took position on strategic spots for ambush and rescue.
"Many bandits were killed, and many abducted victims were rescued. The drones were flying around looking for Tsiga so that we could rescue him but the srones could not capture his location," said one of the officers involved in the operation.
"A rescued victim also told us that General Tsiga started walking but he could not continue, so he sat down on a small rock part under a tree, saying he could not walk for long distances," said a man who escaped from the place where they were being held together with Tsiga.
After the planes dispersed the kidnappers, they kept flying near the ground surface but when they didn't see Tsiga, they left.
It is assumed that after the jets left, the kidnappers returned and re-caotured Tsiga where he was sitting.
KATSINA TIMES investigation confirmed that four times the security forces launched major raids in an attempt to rescue General Tsiga, apart from succeeding in rescuing other kidnap victims, but Tsiga's physical condition did not allow him to reach a place where he could be seen and rescued.
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