- Armed men abducted 28 Muslims, including women and children, travelling by bus in Nigeria; families have started receiving ransom demands.
- Police are deploying security forces, including forest guards to rescue victims and secure remote areas used by criminal gangs.
Armed men have kidnapped 28 Muslims travelling to an annual Islamic event in Nigeria’s central Plateau state.
The victims include women and children. They were ambushed on Sunday night while travelling by bus between villages.
Police spokesperson Alabo Alfred said authorities have “deployed assets” to the area to ensure the abducted Muslim victims are rescued.
A journalist based in Plateau state said families of the latest victims have begun receiving ransom demands.
Police have not identified the suspected perpetrators.
Kidnapping for ransom by criminal gangs, known locally as bandits, has become common in parts of northern and central Nigeria.
Although paying ransom to secure release is illegal, many cases are believed to be resolved this way. It is also seen as a key source of funding for such terrorists.
In November, US President Donald Trump threatened to send troops to “that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing’”. He alleged that Christians were being targeted.
Nigeria’s federal government has acknowledged security challenges. It has denied claims that Christians are being singled out amidst the current disorder.
On Monday, Information Minister Mohammed Idris said that trained and equipped forest guards would be deployed to secure forests and remote areas used as hideouts by criminal groups. These efforts will supplement army operations.
