Armed men have kidnapped 28 people travelling to an annual Islamic event in Nigeria's central Plateau state, local police reported. The victims, which include women and children, were ambushed on a bus as they were traveling between villages on Sunday night. Police spokesperson Alabo Alfred stated that authorities have deployed resources to the affected area to rescue the abductees. This news follows the recent announcement of the release of 130 schoolchildren and teachers from a separate mass kidnapping at a Catholic boarding school in Niger state last month.
Families of the kidnapped individuals have started receiving ransom demands, indicating that this crime is part of a larger pattern of kidnappings for ransom, which have unfortunately become common in northern and central Nigeria. Although the police have not disclosed the identities of the potential perpetrators, local reports suggest these kidnappings are typically carried out by gangs known as 'bandits.'
The incident is unrelated to the ongoing Islamist insurgency in Nigeria's northeast, where extremist groups have been engaged in conflict for over a decade. The issue of security in Nigeria has gained international focus, particularly after a statement from US President Donald Trump regarding the targeting of Christians in Nigeria, which the Nigerian federal government denies, stating that security issues are broader and do not specifically target any religious group.
Efforts to address the security situation include deploying trained forest guards to protect areas often used by criminal groups, resulting in stronger collaboration with international partners like the United States.
Families of the kidnapped individuals have started receiving ransom demands, indicating that this crime is part of a larger pattern of kidnappings for ransom, which have unfortunately become common in northern and central Nigeria. Although the police have not disclosed the identities of the potential perpetrators, local reports suggest these kidnappings are typically carried out by gangs known as 'bandits.'
The incident is unrelated to the ongoing Islamist insurgency in Nigeria's northeast, where extremist groups have been engaged in conflict for over a decade. The issue of security in Nigeria has gained international focus, particularly after a statement from US President Donald Trump regarding the targeting of Christians in Nigeria, which the Nigerian federal government denies, stating that security issues are broader and do not specifically target any religious group.
Efforts to address the security situation include deploying trained forest guards to protect areas often used by criminal groups, resulting in stronger collaboration with international partners like the United States.
