Ex-NYSC DG Tsiga: Bandits Supported by Powerful Individuals

Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga, the former Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), stated that bandits in Nigeria are not acting alone but are receiving support from individuals in power. Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna, Tsiga addressed the issue following the abduction of his colleague, Major General Rabe Abubakar, in Katsina State.

He expressed concern over the sophisticated operations of bandits, which he believes are facilitated by a support system that extends beyond the forests, involving individuals in influential positions. Tsiga warned that military efforts to combat banditry would fail unless authorities focus on dismantling the entire structure sustaining these criminal activities.

He recounted disturbing experiences during captivity, including conversations with bandit leaders about ammunition supplies, raising serious questions about the enabling factors behind the bandits' continued operations. Tsiga concluded that restoring peace in northern Nigeria would be challenging without addressing the underlying support networks.