Major General Mahrazu Tsiga, a former director-general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was kidnapped by gunmen who are alleged to be bandits.
Tsiga, a resident of Tsiga village in Katsina State’s Kankara Local Government Area, was abducted along with several other residents.
In a Thursday phone call, a local resident of the area confirmed the incident to Channels Television.
He claimed that the hoodlums stormed the former NYSC Director General’s residence on Wednesday after they entered with sophisticated weapons.
Read more about an arrest that may be related to an ebonyi community attack.
Regarding the most recent abduction, the police and the Katsina State government have not yet released a statement.
The former NYSC DG was among the abductor’s victims, according to eyewitnesses.
One of the hoodlums died after being mistakenly shot by his colleagues during the brief incident, according to sources who said two residents were injured during the brief incident.
One of the North-Western and North-Central states plagued by bandits who raid villages, kill and kidnap residents, burn and loot homes are among the others.
The gangs, who maintain camps in a huge forest straddling Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger states, have earned notoriety for mass kidnappings of students from schools in recent years.
In 2023, Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umar Radda, established Katsina Community Watch Corps (KCWC) comprising around 2, 000 vigilantes to assist the military and police in fighting the gangs.
‘ We Won’t Negotiate With Criminals ‘
Governor Radda stated that his administration would not negotiate with criminal organizations that were committed to end all evil in the state.
Major General Ibikunle Ademola Ajose, the governor’s commander of the 8th division and commander of the Joint Task Force Northwest Operation, was in the governor’s courtesy residence at the Katsina Government House in Katsina State on January 22.
He argued that a deal with the bandits can only be reached with some legally binding conditions to ensure long-lasting peace. The governor added that the community members’ full consent and involvement in the negotiations are necessary.
The governor disclosed in a statement that his chief press secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, has already established a stakeholder engagement committee to ensure community involvement in peace-building initiatives and that he is open to supporting genuine repentance and reintegration.
The governor further affirmed Katsina State’s significant investment in security infrastructure, surpassing many other federation states, while promising to continue providing logistical support to address fuel supply challenges and maintain operational effectiveness.
He therefore praised the Division and Brigade Commanders’ exceptional leadership and described it as exemplary because of how consistently they led operations and showed unwavering commitment.
Governor Radda emphasized that these efforts, combined with the collaborative operations of the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Civil Defence Corps, and Katsina Community Watch Corps, have yielded significant improvements in the state’s security.
Our brothers, who were born in us, decide to be criminals, are the bandits. Our administration will support those who sincerely surrender and resurrect their lives, the governor assured.
He continued, “We are ready to provide resources for their reintegration and livestock management, so that they can become productive members of society.”
Governor Radda stated that “our farmers can now cultivate their lands and bring their produce to market.”
“This tangible progress demonstrates the effectiveness of our joint security strategies”, he stated.
Major General Ibikunle Ademola Ajose stated earlier in his address that he was in Katsina State to discuss Operation Safe Northwest, which has just been launched, with the State Government. He explained that he was in Katsina State as part of his first-quarter operational visit to all states under the 8th Division, which includes Katsina.
“This initiative aims to mobilize communities, enhance security operations, and foster sustainable peace”, he explained.
Major General Ajose added that the Chief of Defense Staff had written to the four states in the Zone regarding recent reports of bandits’ desire to negotiate peace.
He said, “We are committed to exploring holistic approaches to address this persistent and wicked challenge, and it is important to state categorically that the Nigerian Army does not engage in negotiations with criminals or bandits.”
Governor Radda’s continued support for security operations in the state was praised by the GOC, however. The development of a Forward Operating Base (FOB) was cited by Major General Ajose.
Source: Channels TV
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