Ex-NYSC DG recalls ordeal with hyenas in kidnappers’ den

The former Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Maharazu Tsiga, who regained freedom on Wednesday after almost two months in kidnappers’ den, has recalled how he came in close shave with hyenas.

He said before he was released, hyenas surrounded him and other hostages twenty-four hours before their release from captivity, explaining that it was only God who could have saved them.

Speaking on Thursday during the handing over of nineteen rescued victims, Tsiga who was abducted from his home town, Tsiga in the Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State, North West Nigeria on 5th February 2025, said he and other victims suffered untold hardship in hands of their abductors.

“A day before I left there, that is, the day before yesterday, on the mountain where I was staying, unexpectedly, we looked around and saw hyenas parading, searching for food. And what kind of food? Us, the human beings,”; he said.

According to him, hostages often come across snakes, scorpion and other reptiles in captivity, adding that captives are used as shields during aerial strikes.

He said: “Whenever they were being attacked, sincerely speaking, they brought us out so that the aircraft could target us. But you know, God is merciful. The NSA has said it, and the CDS has said it – the good ones will continue to live”;.

The ex-NYSC DG further revealed that a particular rocket targeted at them was kept by kidnappers close to where he slept so that when he woke up and touched it, it would blow up, but the rocket refused to detonate.

He said the kidnap kingpin explained to him that government officials in uniform always had access to money, which led them to break into his house using explosives.

“They claimed that some of us are in uniform and that the government is always putting money for us to keep. And that is why they tried to open my house. They could not and they had to use explosives to break into my house.

”The kidnappers hate to see aircraft flying over the forest, they fear aircraft more than they fear God. They don’t fear God. They tell you not to call God for them, just give them money. But immediately they see aircraft, even their cows start running”.

Revealing his harrowing experiences, Tsigar disclosed that he is hypertensive but was given ‘tuwo dawa’ once a week, with salt while in captivity, even as they continued to endure beatings from time to time.

“I am hypertensive, and the only thing they could use was salt. Even if you are not a doctor, you know that there are foods people with hypertension should not eat. Now, look at me; I cannot climb these steps. It is all as a result of the salt and the beatings we endured.”;