By Nkechi Eze
The National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) has successfully handed over former NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga (Rtd), Ambassador Gideon Yohanna, and 17 other rescued kidnap victims to National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
This development comes after Tsiga spent 56 days in captivity following his kidnap along side others from his hometown of Tisga in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State, on February 5, 2025.
The handover which took place today 3 April, 2025 in Abuja signifies a crucial achievement in the country’s continued fight against kidnapping and insecurity.
At the handover ceremony, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu in his remarks lauded the collaborative efforts and unwavering dedication of the security forces and intelligence agencies responsible for the successful rescue operation.
“Thank you for making it possible for us to witness this occasion. This one, in summary, is a thanksgiving event. We have to be grateful to God. We are here once again.
“We have done a couple of hand overs in the past as a result of the work of our armed forces and other security services, we are able to rescue and bring back.
“Now we have done it again. This time, it involves very powerful and important personalities who have served this country and have done well for all of us. General Tsiga was in charge of our NYSC at a time, and he did a good job. Our Ambassador Yohanna is also here and a couple of others. Bad things happen to good people. That’s how life is. But evil will not prevail. It’s only a matter of time.
“We thank God for their lives and we are grateful to those who made their rescue possible.”
He also seized the opportunity to reaffirm the federal government’s unshakeable commitment to bolstering national security, guaranteeing the safety and well-being of all citizens, and fostering a secure environment conducive to socio-economic growth and development.
The National Security Adviser vowed that law enforcement agencies would track down and apprehend criminal elements across the country, ensuring that those responsible for the kidnapping would face justice and be held accountable for their actions.
“We will go after the bad ones. This is not the end of the story, this is an ongoing and continuous effort. We are doing it quite silently. These people have been rescued, but those perpetrators of this evil work will pay for it. The work we are doing today is a work in progress.
“We are not there yet, but significant achievements have been made. Under the leadership of our President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Little by little. Very good steps are taken. One year, ten months and we have literally changed the whole narrative. Now the bad people are feeling it. And we will not relent, we are not going to be tired, we will not stop until we see the end of this.
“Not many people know what is going on. We lose lives in the course of doing this work. Many members of our security forces have paid the supreme price. May their gentle souls rest in peace. Those are the people who have sacrificed their lives in the course of doing what you have seen now.” He said.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, reaffirmed the military’s unwavering commitment to rescuing all kidnap victims across the country and reuniting them with their families. He also pledged that the military will pursue and bring to justice the criminals responsible for causing harm and pain to innocent citizens.
“As we celebrate those of them that are here today, I want to assure Nigerians that we will not sleep until every Nigerian is free in this country. And as a warning to all those who don’t mean us well, that we will not allow them to sleep well. We will go after them wherever they are. We can see that we are getting results. One year, ten months, Nigeria is getting better.
“It’s not going to be automatic, but together as Nigerians we’ll take this challenge as a Nigerian challenge, and we must all put our hands together to ensure that we have success. We should support Mr. President, support and the security agencies. Anybody who sees anything going wrong, please report to us. We want every Nigerian to feel free in this country and to enjoy the benefits of being a Nigerian.
“I want to especially thank the NSA for providing the platform for the Armed Forces and other security agencies to work properly in synergy, ensuring that Nigeria is safe and secure. And this comes especially from the mandate of Mr. President, who has provided the needed resources, vision, and leadership for us to work well. He said.
Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga (Rtd) after recounting his ordeal, thanked appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NSA and the military for their commitment to protecting and defending the nation.
Tsiga noted that security is collective responsibility and not the sole responsibility of the government alone.
“The NSA is not a magician, the CDS is not a magician, you must bring the information to them sothat they will act on it.” He said.
Highlight of the ceremony was the handover of a highly sophisticated weapon recovered from the bandits to the CDS.
