A former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig.-Gen. Maharazu Tsiga (rtd) has narrated a chilling experience in captivity, saying that it was near death but for God’s interventions.
Tsiga while recounting his harrowing experience on Thursday at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Abuja, said he escaped hyena attack narrowly, just a day before he was released by his abductors. “A day before I left there, that is, the day before yesterday, on the mountain where I was staying, unexpectedly, we looked around and saw hyenas parading, searching for food. And what kind of food? Us, the human beings, he said.
Speaking further while addressing journalists, he said, “I am hypertensive, 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. Now, look at me; I cannot climb these steps. It is all as a result of the salt and the beatings we endured.”
Tsiga, alongside the former Nigeria’s deputy head of mission to Pretoria, South Africa, Gideon Yohana and 17 others rescued victims of kidnappers made the revelation during the official presentation of the rescued kidnap victims to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa by the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu.
The former NYSC director who spent 56 days in kidnappers’ den before he regained his freedom on Wednesday said beside the hyena, the hostages encountered dangerous scorpions on a daily basis, as if it was normal life.
He added, “Our kidnappers fed us with Towu Dawada once in a day”.
Tsiga also revealed that the kidnappers feared aircraft more than they feared God.
He said, “They don’t fear God. They tell you not to call God for them, just to give them money. But immediately they see aircraft, even their cows start running.
“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.
“They made claims that some of us are in uniform, 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.”
The 72 years Tisga and other rescued victims were handed over by the coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka (rtd) after a brief ceremony.
Recall that Tsiga Tsiga, was abducted on February 5, 2025, from his hometown of Tsiga in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.
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