Retired brigadier general claims he overheard ammunition deal involving suspected insiders while held hostage; urges crackdown on terror supply networks

Retired Brigadier General Maharazu Ismail Tsiga, former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has made explosive allegations that individuals within government circles are colluding with terrorists, drawing from what he describes as firsthand experience during his abduction in early 2025.

In a video widely shared on X, Tsiga recounted overhearing a late-night phone conversation while in captivity. According to him, a caller—whom he suspected to have links to government officials—contacted a notorious terrorist leader known as Kachalla to discuss the potential purchase of 10 cartons of ammunition.

Tsiga said the insurgent leader expressed interest in the deal but delayed committing, reportedly saying he needed to “finish dealing with an old man first”—a statement the retired general believes was a direct reference to himself.

The former NYSC boss was kidnapped on February 5, 2025, from his home in Tsiga village, Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State, alongside several others. The attack left one person dead. Tsiga spent about 56 days in captivity before regaining freedom in early April following ransom negotiations.

He made the allegations during a press interaction in June 2026 alongside other retired military officers, convened after the death of a colleague who died while in terrorist custody.

Tsiga argued that Nigeria’s persistent insecurity, particularly in the northwest, is being fueled not only by armed groups in remote areas but also by a broader network of collaborators, including informants and suppliers operating beyond the forests. He alleged that some of these enablers may be embedded within government structures.

“Negotiations alone will not end the violence,” Tsiga said, stressing the need to dismantle the logistics and supply chains sustaining terrorist operations. He questioned how such groups continue to access large volumes of ammunition, suggesting that cutting off these channels is key to ending the crisis.

As of the time of reporting, there has been no official response from government authorities regarding Tsiga’s claims, which come amid ongoing concerns over banditry and terrorism across northern Nigeria.