On the 5th of February, 2025, Brigadier-General MI Tsiga, rtd, a former Director General of the National Youth Service Corp, NYSC, was violently abducted from his home in Tsiga Town, Bakori Local Government Area, Katsina State.
That the General could be abducted so violently shook the country, especially, the Military.
For 56 days, the General was in the custody of the bandits who abducted him. And even though his abductors were communicating with members of his family, Nigeria’s Security Agencies could not locate him; they could not track the bandits.
But, mercifully, after weeks of harrowing experience during which he saw death, literally – battled with large snakes, scorpions, hyena, physical and mental torture, including placing an unexploded rocket by his side and using him and other victims as human shield each time a military aircraft flew by, he has been released.
It is not known how much was paid as ransome before his release, but in a thank you note to those who contributed their money and time to ensure his release, his colleague, Brigadier-General Ismaila Abdullahi rtd, who coordinated the fund raising disclosed that the General’s kidnappers asked for a whopping sum of N400,000,000 (Four Hundred Million Naira).
To raise the money, a WhatsApp Platform was created, and account number attached. Said Brigadier-General Abdullahi, Nigerians, including Generals responded overwhelmingly. “Donations came in pouring like August Rains”, he disclosed.
Following is the full text of the thank you note on behalf of General Tsiga to all those who contributed in anyway to his release signed by Abdullahi. In the letter, Brigadier-General Abdullahi detailed how the money was collected for Tsiga’s release.
“GENERAL MI TSIGA: A NOTE OF APPRECIATION
Date: 4th April 2025
“I, Brigadier General Ismaila Abdullahi, on behalf of Brigadier General MI Tsiga, friends and associates wish to express our profound gratitude and appreciation to you all on your wonderful and unexpected contributions in our struggle to ensure that General MI Tsiga regained his freedom from the 5th of February 2025 when he was violently taken away from his house in Tsiga Town, Bakori LGA of Katsina State.
“The moment we heard of General MI Tsiga’s kidnapping, my self and Major General LB Bunza started exchanging ideas towards the release of General Tsiga.
“On the 9th of February 2025, we decided to create a WhatsApp platform that we named simply “TSIGA.” The aim was to inform the general public of the unfolding situation, i.e., the abduction of General MI Tsiga. As days went by, and when the bandits made their demand of 400,000,000 naira as the ransom money they wanted before they released General MI Tsiga, we decided to solicit for donations on our TSIGA PLATFORM.
“The response was overwhelming. On this platform, we had over 300 members; made up of retired military officers,serving military officers, and civilians from all segments of our society, university lecturers, ambassadors, and businessmen.
“For proper accountability, General Bunza and I decided that all the contributions should be channelled into General Tsiga’s bank account. So, I asked Kamal (General Tsiga’s son) to send us his father’s bank account. He immediately sent me General Tsiga’s bank account, domiciled in Unity Bank. I posted this account on the TSIGA PLATFORM and requested donations from members to assist General Tsiga’s family in meeting up with the demands of the bandits.
“The response,like I had earlier observed, was overwhelming. Donations came in pouring like ‘August Rains.’
“Initially, I started updating the amount being received, but some members noticed and quickly advised that the update was not proper security-wise, so I stopped posting the daily contributions.
“From 22 February 2025, when donations started coming in to 15 March 2025, the amount we received was indicative that yes, TOGETHER WE CAN.
I want to therefore, on behalf of General MI Tsiga, family, friends, colleagues and associates, thank you all for your brotherly and sisterly expression of concern and contributions both financial, moral, and even spiritual in our collective efforts to make sure General MI Tsiga regained his freedom.
Today, 4th April 2025 I have come to the end of my humble task. The task of keeping the general public informed of General MI Tsiga’s predicament. As I write this little write-up, I feel fulfilled as our collective efforts have finally yielded a very positive outcome ie THE RELEASE of General MI Tsiga.
“Thank you and bye.
“Brigadier-General Ismaila Abdullahi rtd, 4 April 2025”
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