KASTINA: In the early hours of Thursday, February 6, 2025, armed assailants abducted former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Major General Mahrazu Tsiga (retired), along with at least 12 other residents in Tsiga village, Bakori Local Government Area, Katsina State.
The attackers, heavily armed, stormed the community around 12:30 a.m., firing sporadically to instill fear among residents. During the brief attack, one individual was killed, and two others sustained injuries. Additionally, one of the assailants was accidentally shot and killed by his own colleagues.
The Katsina State Government and the police have yet to release an official statement regarding this incident.
Katsina State, along with several other states in the North-Western and North-Central regions, has been grappling with the menace of banditry. These groups have been notorious for raiding villages, committing murders, abductions, and looting homes. They operate from extensive forested areas spanning Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger states and have gained infamy for mass kidnappings, including the abduction of students from schools in recent years.
In response to the escalating threat, Governor Dikko Umar Radda established the Katsina Community Watch Corps (KCWC) in 2023, comprising approximately 2,000 vigilantes. This initiative aims to support the military and police in combating the banditry crisis.
Governor Radda has also emphasized that his administration will not negotiate with criminal elements responsible for the state’s insecurity. He stated that any peace agreements with bandits would be contingent upon specific conditions to ensure lasting peace and would require the full acceptance and involvement of the affected communities. The governor further expressed openness to supporting genuine repentance and reintegration efforts for those willing to abandon criminal activities.
These developments underscore the ongoing challenges in addressing banditry in the region and the concerted efforts by state authorities to restore peace and security to affected communities.
