A former head of Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Maharazu Tsiga, has described his harrowing 56 days in captivity, revealing that he and other hostages were surrounded by hyenas just a day before their release.
Mr Tsiga was abducted from his home in Katsina State in February. Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, as 19 rescued kidnap victims were handed over to their families, he detailed the perilous conditions they faced.
“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,” Mr Tsiga recounted.
He added that snakes and scorpions were a frequent presence in their captivity.
Mr Tsiga also alleged that their captors used high-profile hostages as human shields during aerial attacks. “Whenever they were being attacked, sincerely speaking, they brought us out so that the aircraft could target us. But you know, God is merciful,” he said.
In a particularly chilling account, he described a close call with a rocket. “They carried that rocket to where I was sleeping and hid it there so that immediately I woke up and touched it, it would explode. But God is merciful,” he stated.
According to Mr Tsiga, the kidnappers believed that government officials had easy access to money, which led them to use explosives to break into his house. “They made claims that some of us are in uniform, and the government is always putting money for us to keep. And that is why they tried to open my house. They cannot and they had to use explosives to break into my house.”
He further noted the kidnappers’ fear of aircraft, saying, “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.”
Describing the harsh conditions, Mr Tsiga said they were fed only once a week, mainly with a local dish called Tuwo Dawa. He also highlighted the impact on his health: “I am hypotensive, and the only thing they could use was salt… Now, look at me; I cannot climb these steps. It is all as a result of the salt and the beatings we endured.”
Mr Tsiga stressed the need for collective security efforts and urged citizens to provide intelligence to security agencies.
Also speaking at the handover, former Ambassador Gideon Yohana, another rescued victim, expressed gratitude for the efforts to secure their release and noted reported improvements in security in several states.
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