28 Travellers Abducted in Plateau State Amid Ongoing Security Challenges in Nigeria
Twenty-eight travellers, including women and children, were abducted from a bus in Plateau state on Sunday night while en route to an annual Islamic event. The attack took place between villages, according to reports.
Police spokesperson Alabo Alfred stated that security forces have been deployed to the area to secure the abducted individuals and aid rescue efforts, although no perpetrators have yet been identified. Families of the abducted victims have begun receiving ransom demands.
This abduction fits a pattern of ransom kidnappings carried out by criminal gangs, often referred to as bandits, operating in northern and central Nigeria. Authorities have clarified that the incident is not connected to the Islamist insurgency in the northeast.
The event follows the recent release of 130 schoolchildren and teachers who had been kidnapped from a Catholic boarding school in Niger state last month.
While security challenges continue, authorities deny that Christians are being specifically targeted. Information Minister Mohammed Idris stated that tensions with the US over insecurity issues have largely been resolved. Additionally, he announced the deployment of forest guards tasked with securing forests and remote hideouts to support army operations in combating such criminal activities.
