Suspected bandits have abducted a former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Major General Mahrazu Tsiga (retired), along with several residents of Tsiga village in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

According to local sources, the armed assailants stormed Tsiga’s residence on Wednesday night, seizing him and other victims before fleeing. Reports indicate that two residents sustained injuries during the attack, while one of the bandits was accidentally shot and killed by his own group.

Authorities in Katsina State, including the police and government officials, have yet to release a statement regarding the incident.

Katsina, like several states in the North-West and North-Central regions of Nigeria, has been plagued by banditry, with armed groups carrying out frequent raids, killings, and kidnappings. These gangs, operating from forest camps across Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger states, have gained infamy for mass abductions, particularly targeting schools.

In response to the security crisis, Governor Dikko Umar Radda established the Katsina Community Watch Corps (KCWC) in 2023, deploying around 2,000 vigilantes to support military and police operations against bandit groups.

‘No Negotiation With Criminals’ – Governor Radda

Governor Radda has reiterated his administration’s stance against negotiating with criminal elements in the state. Speaking on January 22 during a courtesy visit by Major General Ibikunle Ademola Ajose, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division and Commander of Joint Task Force Northwest Operation, the governor emphasized that peace talks would only be considered under strict conditions with community involvement.

Radda assured that while his government is open to reintegrating repentant bandits into society, those who continue to terrorize communities will face relentless security operations. He praised the collaborative efforts of security forces, including the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Police, Civil Defence, and vigilante groups, in improving security across the state.

Meanwhile, Major General Ajose affirmed that the Nigerian Army does not engage in negotiations with criminals but remains committed to a holistic approach to tackling insecurity in the region.

The latest abduction highlights the ongoing security challenges in Katsina and the broader North-West region, where banditry remains a persistent threat despite government efforts.