By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The gunmen who abducted a former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), retired general Maharazu Tsiga, have demanded a N250 million ransom for his release.

A reliable source close to the family who preferred anonymity, revealed that the family was contacted and the amount requested.

Tsiga was said to have been abducted alongside nine other residents.

Weekend Trust reports that the incident occurred around midnight on Wednesday when over 100 gunmen surrounded the General’s residence and whisked him away.

The member representing Bakori/Danja federal constituency Katsina State, Abdullahi Balarabe Dabai, told newsmen that the attackers after surrounding the house, began to break doors, a situation that prompted the general to come out and asked them what they were looking for.

Meanwhile, as of the time of filing this report, neither the army spokesman of 17 Brigade in Katsina nor the police spokesman had responded to messages sent to them on the matter.

Daily Trust

The management of Kaduna Electric has agreed to review its past actions after the two in-house labour unions promised to restore electricity to Kaduna State and all its franchise States with immediate effect.

The resolutions were reached after Governor Uba Sani convened a meeting, which ended around 8pm with both parties on Friday at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House.

The labour unions of Kaduna Electric embarked on industrial action since last Sunday, following the decision of  the management to sack 444 workers, plunging Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi States to darkness.

At the end of the meeting which lasted into Friday night, Governor Uba Sani promised to be the guarantor as he would ensure fairness to both sides after the parties agreed to  sit down and take a joint decision.

‘’The unions praised the Governor for his intervention. They  also commended  the Management, ably led by Dr Hashidu, for moving Kaduna Electric forward,’’ the resolution stated.

The unions also ‘’noted that the Management is operating under stringent conditions, given the prevailing economic situation in the country but promised to help it to succeed.’’

The parties also noted that the  Management of Kaduna Electric and the labour unions are partners in progress, adding that  what happened was as  a result of a  breakdown in communication.

The meeting also argued that ‘’there must be a give-and-take on the side of both the Management and Labour in order to find an amicable settlement of the dispute.’’

The resolution  was signed by  Dr Umar Abubakar Hashidu, the Managing Director of the electricity company, Comrade Wisdom Nwachukwu, the Vice President(Distribution) of National Union of Electricity Employees(NUEE), Comrade Rilwanu Shehu, Deputy President North of the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC).

Other union members that signed the resolution include Comrade Muhammed Musa, Deputy President North  of NUEE and     Comrade Haruna Ahmed Tinau, Deputy Secretary General(North).

Engr Idris Ahmed Idris, the Managing Director of Kaduna Power Supply Company also signed the resolution.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), yesterday, said there was no explosion at the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company (WRPC).

Its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr Olufemi Soneye disclosed this in a rejoinder which stressed that any contrary report was utterly false.

Soneye said routine maintenance was in progress in the plant.

The statement said, “NNPC Ltd wishes to clarify that there was no explosion at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC). Any reports suggesting otherwise are completely false.”

NNPCL recalled that on January 25, 2025, operations at WRPC Area 1 were intentionally curtailed to carry out necessary intervention works on select equipment, including field instruments that were impacting sustainable and steady operations.

According to the statement, “The intervention works are essential to ensure the production of on specification finished and intermediate products, particularly Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Kerosene (Kero).”