A former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brig-Gen Maharazu Tsiga, rtd, says bandits terrorising communities may be receiving backing from powerful individuals in government and other positions of authority.
Tsiga made this statement at a press conference in Kaduna about late Major-General Rabe Abubakar, rtd, who died in bandits’ captivity in Katsina State.
According to Tsiga, who was also kidnapped earlier this year from his hometown in Katsina, he had horrible experience in bandits’ captivity during the period.
The former NYSC DG recounted that his time with the bandits exposed a deeply troubling support system operating beyond the forests, involving informants, logistics suppliers and individuals allegedly connected to positions of influence.
“These people may be having the backing of those in power. One of the days I was there around 2 a.m., this issue came up. Somebody called and said, ‘Please, Kachala, are you ready to buy 10 cartons of ammunition?
“He said, ‘Yes, but let me finish with one old man.’ When he finished talking and was talking to me, I asked him jokingly, ‘put me inside this business now.’
“He said, ‘Who are you? You are a retired general. You don’t have office. We are talking to people who are in office now,” Tsiga recounted.
