The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Thursday 3rd March 2025, handed over recued kidnapped victims including a former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Retired Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga, Ambassador Gideon Yohanna, and 17 other rescued victims to their families.
Speaking during the handing over of the kidnap victims at National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), a unit under the NSA office, Mallam Ribadu said the successful rescue of the victims was a well-coordinated efforts by the military and other joint security forces.
“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 serve this country and who did 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 all about. But evil will not prevail. It's a matter of time.
“We thank God for their lives and we are grateful to those who made their rescue possible.”
The NSA assured the public that operations to rescue all kidnap victims from captivity is an going efforts by the present administration stressing that the military and other security agencies will not relent in their efforts to rescue all victims.
“This is an ongoing and continuous effort. We are doing it quite silently. We will go after the bad ones. This is not the end of the story. These people have been rescued, but those perpetrators of this evil will pay for it, dearly. The work we are doing today is a work in progress. We are not there yet.
“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 were the people who have sacrificed their lives in the course of doing what you have seen now.”
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, also assured the public that the military would ensure that all kidnap victims across the country are reunited with their families.
He said: “I want to especially thank the NSA for providing the platform for the Armed Forces and other security agencies to work properly in synergy in 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.
“As we celebrate those of them that are here today, I want to assure Nigeria 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, and 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 his own country to enjoy the benefits of being Nigerians.”
Speaking earlier, the National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Center, Major General said Brigadier General Tsiga was kidnapped on February 5, 2025, in his hometown of Tsiga, Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State, alongside nine others, while Ambassador Yohanna, a former Deputy Chief of Mission to Pretoria, South Africa, was kidnapped in January in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
In his appreciation message, former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Retired Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga called on all citizens to carry the mindset of a whole of society approach in matters of security as the security agencies cannot do magic if criminals within our communities are being shielded.
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