Key Points

• General Tsiga was held captive for over two months in a dangerous environment with hyenas, snakes, and terrorists.

• He survived multiple life-threatening situations, including being used as a human shield and being placed near an unexploded rocket.

• Tsiga calls for greater community involvement in national security and the importance of providing timely intelligence.

Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga (rtd), the former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has opened up about his harrowing experience after spending more than two months in the hands of terrorists and kidnappers.

His ordeal, which took place in a dense forest surrounded by hills and dangerous wildlife, is one of survival against all odds.

Tsiga, now 72 years old, described his time in captivity as a test of faith. He believes that only divine intervention allowed him to survive the extreme conditions he endured.

“We were kept with dangerous animals—hyenas, snakes, and scorpions. A day before I was released, we noticed a hyena circling us, searching for food,” he recalled. “And what kind of food? Us, human beings.”

Living with danger: Snakes, scorpions, and being used as human shields

The former NYSC director shared the terrifying environment in which he was held. Snakes and scorpions were constant threats, adding to the perilous conditions.

However, the most frightening experience came when the kidnappers used him and others as human shields.

Tsiga explained, “Whenever the troops attacked them, they would bring us out and use us as human shields, hoping the military strikes would kill us.

They wanted us to be hit by the aircraft, but God is merciful.” His faith, along with the mercy of God, helped him survive the brutal treatment.

He also recalled a chilling moment involving an unexploded rocket. “During an airstrike, a rocket was fired at the terrorists, but it didn’t explode.

They carried the unexploded rocket and placed it where I was sleeping, hiding it in a way that if I touched it, it would detonate. Yet, by God’s mercy, I survived.”

Terrorists targeting military officers and their families

Tsiga went on to explain that the kidnappers believed military officers had access to government funds, which led to the attack on his home.

“They believe that those of us in uniform are given money by the government,” Tsiga said. “That’s why they tried to break into my house.

When they couldn’t, they went to my home in Kaduna and used explosives to destroy it, including the gates.”

Despite these traumatic experiences, Tsiga expressed deep gratitude for his rescue and for the support of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Chief of Defence Staff.

He emphasized that securing the country is a collective responsibility that requires the involvement of everyone.

The importance of community support and timely intelligence

Tsiga concluded his account by stressing the importance of community involvement in national security.

He said, “We must not assume that the government can do it all alone. Everyone must contribute by providing intelligence and information. The NSA and the CDS are not magicians; they need timely and accurate reports to act upon.”