“Kidnappers Hid Explosives Next to Me, Praying I’d Touch Them” – Ex-NYSC DG Recounts Ordeal After 56 Days in Captivity

Former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Maharazu Tsiga, who was recently freed after being held captive for 56 days, has shared the harrowing details of his abduction and captivity. 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 victims to their families, Tsiga described the terrifying moments he and other hostages endured while in the kidnappers’ den. He recalled that just a day before their release, hyenas had surrounded them, searching for food. “We looked around and saw hyenas parading, searching for food. And what kind of food? Us, the human beings,” he said, recounting the eerie experience on the mountain where they had been held.

In addition to the constant threat of the kidnappers, Tsiga revealed that the hostages had to contend with dangerous wildlife, including snakes and scorpions, during their time in captivity. He also shared a particularly chilling account of the kidnappers’ brutal tactics, revealing that they used high-profile captives like him as human shields during aerial attacks. “Whenever they were being attacked, they brought us out so that the aircraft could target us,” he said. “But you know, God is merciful. The NSA has said it, and the CDS has said it – the good ones will continue to live.”

Tsiga further recounted a terrifying moment when a rocket aimed at him and the other hostages 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.

The kidnappers, Tsiga explained, believed that government officials, especially those in uniform, had access to large sums of money. This misconception led them to break into his house using explosives, an attempt that ultimately failed. “They made claims that some of us are in uniform, and the government is always putting money for us to keep. And that is why they tried to open my house. They cannot and they had to use explosives to break into my house.”

During his captivity, Tsiga noted that the kidnappers feared aircraft more than they feared God. “They don’t fear God. They tell you not to call God for them, just give them money. But immediately they see aircraft, even their cows start running,” he said.

Life in captivity was marked by extreme deprivation. Tsiga revealed that the hostages were only given food once a week, surviving mostly on Tuwo Dawa, a dish that provided little nourishment. “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,” he said, explaining how the lack of proper food and the beatings he endured had left him in poor health.

Tsiga also emphasized the importance of collective efforts in ensuring security, stating that citizens should not rely solely on the government but also contribute to the safety of their communities. “Security is a collective responsibility,” he said, urging citizens to provide timely and accurate intelligence to security agencies, which rely on such information to act effectively.

Among the rescued victims was Ambassador Gideon Yohana, former Deputy Head of Mission in Pretoria, South Africa. Yohana expressed his gratitude to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, and other security agencies for their efforts in securing their release. He acknowledged the Federal Government’s support and highlighted improvements in security across several 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.