The family of Maharazu Ismail Tsiga, abducted former Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), have debunked reports of his release from captivity.
Tsiga was abducted by bandits in his village – Tsiga, Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina state, on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
There had been reports that Tsiga had been freed by his captors. However, addressing a press conference on Friday on behalf of the family in Kaduna, Ismaila Abdullahi, a retired military officer, said Tsiga is still in captivity contrary to the reports.
He said reports of his purported release is “fake news. 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.
“No!, General M I Tsiga has not been released as I speak to you today, being 7th March, 2025,” Abdullahi said.
According to him, Tsiga has been in the hands of these bandits for exactly 30 days as at March 7.
“Fake news has been going round that Gen. Tsiga has been released. I want to tell you gentlemen here and now ; that as at this morning (of March 7, 2025), General Tsiga is still in captivity in the bush, “he said.
He decried the attitude of the Federal and the Katsina state governments towards the unfortunate incident.
Abdullahi noted that Tsiga served the country well in various capacities, stressing that the government ought to have shown some concerns to his family.
“He was at one time a Director General of the National Youth Service Corps. He was DG NYSC for two consecutive terms. It is our expectation that a team from the federal government would visit the family of General M I Tsiga to express sympathy on what befall their husband, father, and grandfather.
“Alas!!, To date, General M I Tsiga has been in the bush for a complete month, but no one deems it appropriate or even necessary from the federal government to visit or even call the family to express sympathy. What a country! What a leadership!”
Abdullahi said further that the attitude of the Katsina State government is even worse.
According to him, Tsiga hails from Bakori LGA of Katsina State. He is a very prominent figure in the state. We are aware he served the state in various capacities.
“Worthy of note was his service under the administration of ex- governor Aminu Masari administration as chairman of the committee set up to bring an end to banditry in Katsina state.
“General M. I. Tsiga is also well known by the present Katsina state government.
“It is disheartening that today, after 30 days of his abduction, no state government official visited or even called on the phone to Tsiga’s family to express concern and sympathy.
“Today, no reaction from the Katsina state government. We asked: where is the state governor? What has he been doing to find no time to send his representative to General Tsiga’s family to express sympathy?
“We asked: is this leadership? This we affirm is disgusting and unacceptable. Our political leaders must change their attitudes toward leadership and service to the people.
Abdullah also expressed shock over the complete silence of the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on the abduction of the former NYSC DG.
He regretted that the ACF has not deemed it fit to address address the issue, at least by issuing a press release in spite of the fact that Tsiga is an active member of the forum.
“What a leadership!!. 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…
“We view this ACF attitude as lucky in empathy. Indeed, this ACF leadership attitude in respect to General M I Tsiga as unacceptable.
“This is not the ACF we envisioned.”
Abdullahi expressed the hope that security forces would do everything possible to rescue Tsiga.”
