Gunmen Abduct 28 Travellers En Route to Islamic Event in Nigeria. Jos, Nigeria — Armed men have abducted at least 28 individuals, including women and children, who were en route to an annual Islamic gathering in Plateau state, central Nigeria, according to local sources.
The incident occurred on Sunday night as the victims were traveling by bus between rural communities.
Witnesses report that the gunmen stopped the vehicle and forcibly separated passengers at gunpoint.
As of now, the authorities have not released an official statement, and the identity of the attackers remains unknown.
A journalist based in Plateau state informed the BBC that relatives of those abducted have started receiving ransom demands from the kidnappers.
The latest abduction comes amidst growing concerns over the surge in mass abductions across northern and central Nigeria. Criminal gangs, often referred to as “bandits,” frequently target travelers, villages, and schools. Although paying ransom is illegal under Nigerian law, security analysts suggest it is widely believed to be how many kidnappings are resolved, making it a significant source of income for armed groups.
The Plateau state abductions followed closely on the heels of Nigerian authorities confirming the release of the remaining 130 schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped from a Catholic boarding school in Niger state last month. Officials reported that all those taken in that earlier attack had been freed after weeks in captivity, which raised hopes for improved security efforts.
However, the latest incident underscores the persistent risks faced by civilians.
The Plateau state kidnapping is not associated with the Islamist insurgency in north — eastern Nigeria, where jihadist groups have been battling government forces for over a decade. Nigeria’s security situation has garnered renewed international attention in recent months.
In November, US President Donald Trump threatened to send troops to what he described as a “now disgraced country,” claiming Christians were being targeted.
Nigeria’s federal government has rejected those claims, stating that insecurity affects communities of all religions.
On Monday, Information Minister Mohammed Idris said recent tensions with Washington over security concerns had been “largely resolved,” leading to stronger relations between the two countries. He also announced plans to deploy trained forest guards to patrol remote areas and forests, which are often used as hideouts by criminal gangs, in addition to ongoing military operations.
Further details are expected as the situation develops.
