Former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig. Gen. Maharazu Tsiga (retd.), has been abducted by bandits in Tsiga village, Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The attack, which occurred around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, reportedly lasted for three hours.
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The bandits also killed one person and kidnapped at least nine others while ransacking homes and looting valuables.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants stormed the community, shooting sporadically to instill fear.
A resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested that Gen. Tsiga was the primary target.
“From the look of things, General Tsiga was their target because none of his family members were kidnapped. He is living with his family there, but after they picked him, they also picked others alongside the general,” the source said.
The Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, said he had yet to be briefed on the incident but promised to provide updates once available.
“I am yet to be briefed on the facts of the reports. I’ll get back to you as soon as I get the details, please,” he said.
The Nigerian Army has since mobilised troops to locate and rescue the abducted general and other victims.
A senior military official familiar with the situation revealed that the Commander of the 17 Brigade, Brig. Gen. Babatunde Omopariola, personally led the search operation in the forested areas of the state.
The source confirmed, “Brigade Commander, Brigadier-General Babatunde Omopariola, has been in the bush since the night of the incident.”
As of press time, no official statements had been released by the Army, Police, or NYSC headquarters regarding the incident.