28 Muslim Travelers Abducted in Nigeria's Plateau State

Tue Dec 23 2025 23:10:31 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Armed gangs have intensified kidnappings in Nigeria, with the latest incident involving 28 people on their way to an Islamic event. As families receive ransom demands, police have deployed resources to the area for their rescue.

In Nigeria's Plateau state, armed men have kidnapped 28 individuals, including women and children, who were traveling to an annual Islamic event. Following the attack on their bus, police have taken action to rescue the victims, amidst ongoing fears of ransom demands from the kidnappers. This incident highlights the growing trend of abductions for ransom in Nigeria, a problem that has escalated in recent years.

28 Muslim Travelers Abducted in Nigeria's Plateau State

Armed men have kidnapped 28 people travelling to an annual Islamic event in Nigeria's central Plateau state, local police reported.

The victims, which included women and children, were ambushed on their bus on Sunday night while traveling between villages.

Police spokesperson Alabo Alfred stated that authorities have deployed assets to the affected area to assist in the rescue of those abducted.

This news comes just a day after the Nigerian authorities announced the release of the remaining 130 schoolchildren and teachers from a separate mass kidnapping at a Catholic boarding school in Niger state last month.

According to a journalist based in Plateau state, families of the latest victims have begun receiving ransom demands.

Police have not disclosed the identities of the possible perpetrators involved in this latest kidnapping.

Kidnapping for ransom, perpetrated by criminal gangs known as bandits, has become increasingly common in northern and central Nigeria.

While the practice of paying ransom is illegal, it is often how many cases are resolved, as it provides these gangs with a way to raise funds.

This incident is not linked to the long-standing Islamist insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, where jihadist groups have been battling the state for over a decade.

International concerns regarding security in Nigeria intensified in November after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened military action over alleged targeting of Christians within the country.

The Nigerian federal government has acknowledged security issues but denied that Christians are targeted specifically.

On Monday, Nigeria's Information Minister Mohammed Idris noted that recent tensions with the U.S. about insecurity and claims of persecution against Christians had largely resolved, resulting in improved relations with Washington.

Idris added that trained forest guards would be deployed to secure remote areas used by criminal gangs to complement military operations.