Katsina State has witnessed multiple kidnapping incidents over the past year. Communities in the Funtua zone-including Faskari, Dandume, Sabuwa, Bakori, and Kankara LGAs-have suffered recurring assaults and high-profile abductions.
Just last week, retired Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga, a former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), regained his freedom after spending 56 days in captivity.
Tsiga was kidnapped alongside nine others from his hometown in Bakori LGA on February 5, 2025.
Speaking after his release, Tsiga described the harrowing conditions in captivity, recounting an encounter with hyenas just a day before their release.
He added that hostages were fed only once daily and regularly encountered snakes and scorpions.
Last month, National Qur’anic Recitation Competition winner, Abdulsalam Rabiu-Faskari, was kidnapped alongside his father and brother while returning to Faskari from Katsina.
They had just been honoured by Governor Dikko Radda. The kidnappers reportedly demanded a N30 million ransom.
In March 2025, Katsina State Police repelled a kidnap attempt, rescuing 30 victims and recovering 92 stolen livestock in Faskari LGA.
Police spokesperson DSP Abubakar Sadiq said officers engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle at Unguwar Sarkin Fulani, forcing them to retreat with injuries, leaving the victims unharmed and livestock recovered.
Also recently, businessman Alhaji Balan Awwal was kidnapped in Malumfashi alongside his son. The son was quickly rescued.
A source said the assailants operated silently around 1:30 a.m., entering Awwal’s residence in Bayan Kasuwa without firing a shot.
“He used to be in the oil and gas business but has faced financial hardship in recent years. He’s over 60 and currently ill,” the resident added.
Daily Trust also learned that the son of Malumfashi’s LGA Chairman was abducted, though details remain sketchy.
In Bakori town, another attempted abduction targeted prominent businessman Alhaji Tukur.
According to a resident, he spotted the kidnappers through his surveillance cameras and raised an alarm, prompting local vigilantes to respond.
The attackers fled, but not before kidnapping cattle dealer Alhaji Awwalu Maishanu, along with his wife and daughter.
In May 2024, police foiled another kidnapping attempt in Unguwar Boka, Faskari LGA. Bandits had barricaded the Funtua-Gusau road to ambush travellers. Swift police action led to the rescue of three victims and the recovery of 16 rustled cows.
In June 2024, Maidabino village in Danmusa LGA was attacked, resulting in at least seven deaths and the abduction of many residents, including women and children.
The assailants looted properties and stole livestock during a six-hour rampage.
In August 2024, police arrested 21-year-old Halilu Yusuf for kidnapping a six-year-old boy. Yusuf lured the boy, and demanded a N2 million ransom, but was caught and the child was rescued unharmed.
In November 2024, police thwarted another kidnapping attempt in Dan’arau village, Magama-Jibia LGA, rescuing 14 passengers. Two victims sustained gunshot injuries; one later died in the hospital.
In December 2024, police foiled a kidnapping attempt on the Katsina-Magama Jibia road. Ten victims were rescued after a gun battle; four sustained gunshot wounds, and two later succumbed to their injuries.
