Over 1,100 Abductions in Northern Nigeria in Three Months
• Punch Newspapers • Lifestyle
Amnesty International revealed that over 1,100 individuals were abducted across northern Nigeria from January to April 2026, emphasizing the urgent need for government intervention to combat the alarming rise in kidnappings. Victims often endure severe abuses, including torture, starvation, and rape. The report cites various incidents, including the killing of 200 people and the abduction of 176 in Woro village, Kwara State, in February 2026, and the kidnapping of 150 individuals in Bukkuyum, Zamfara State, in early April. Additionally, Boko Haram fighters abducted 100 internally displaced persons near Mafa, Borno State, in March. The report highlights the dire consequences of these abductions, which disrupt education and force families into extreme hardship, often leading them to raise funds for ransom. Amnesty International's director in Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, criticized the government's failure to protect citizens and called for immediate action to address the ongoing crisis of insecurity and human rights violations in the region.
Topics: Human Rights, Security