Fear has gripped residents of Tsiga town in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State following the abduction of former NYSC Director General, General Tsiga, prompting over 400 people to flee their homes.
A community source, speaking anonymously, revealed that between Thursday and Friday, hundreds of residents abandoned the town, citing fear for their safety. “General Tsiga is a respected figure, and if he can be kidnapped, what about ordinary people?” the source lamented. Another fleeing resident echoed the sentiment, stating, “We stayed despite the banditry because of him, but now that he’s gone, we have no choice but to leave.”
The abduction occurred on Wednesday night around 10:30 p.m. when armed bandits stormed the town, shooting sporadically before breaking into General Tsiga’s residence. Reports indicate that an unspecified number of people, including the ex-NYSC DG, were taken, with two residents killed and three others injured. According to a source, the assailants arrived in large numbers on motorcycles, abducting at least nine people from Tsiga and surrounding areas.
Confirming the incident, Katsina State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, stated that security forces are working tirelessly with other agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted individuals.
The incident has sparked widespread reactions. Katsina Elders Forum Secretary, Alhaji Aliyu Sani Mohammed, condemned the abduction, emphasizing the state’s ongoing struggle with insecurity despite Governor Dikko Radda’s efforts. “Tsiga is a good man who chose to stay and help his people, but criminals targeted him. The government must act swiftly to secure his release,” he stated.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Katsina, Mr. AbdulRahman Abdullahi, called for increased federal intervention. He criticized security agencies for reactive rather than proactive measures, stressing that bandit attacks are often preceded by ignored intelligence reports. “Out of 100 attacks, 90 to 95% are reported beforehand, yet authorities fail to act,” he alleged.
Former Katsina State Security Adviser, Mallam Ibrahim Ahmed-Katsina, urged greater community vigilance, warning that insecurity could spiral further if residents do not support security forces. He advocated for regulated community policing rather than uncontrolled armed self-defense. “The government cannot do it alone. Security forces are outnumbered, but with community collaboration, we can overcome this challenge,” he said.
Ahmed-Katsina called on communities to work closely with security agencies, undergo training, and actively participate in safeguarding their localities. “May God rescue him (Tsiga),” he prayed.
Source: Swifteradio.com
