28 Muslim Travelers Abducted in Plateau State, Nigeria

Wed Dec 24 2025 03:54:49 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a shocking incident, armed men kidnapped 28 individuals, including women and children, traveling to an annual Islamic event in Nigeria's central Plateau state. Authorities have initiated rescue operations while ransom demands are reportedly being made to the victims' families.

Armed kidnappers have abducted 28 people in Nigeria's Plateau state, including women and children, while they were en route to an Islamic gathering. Local authorities are working to rescue the victims amidst rising concerns of ransom demands made to their families. This incident adds to the ongoing crisis of kidnappings for ransom in the region, which is unrelated to the larger Islamist insurgency affecting other parts of Nigeria.

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

The victims, including women and children, were ambushed in their bus on Sunday night as it was driving between villages.

Police spokesperson Alabo Alfred stated that the authorities have deployed assets to the area to ensure the safe rescue of those abducted.

Reports of the abductions surfaced just a day after Nigerian officials announced the release of 130 schoolchildren and teachers involved in a separate mass kidnapping in Niger state last month.

A journalist in Plateau state indicated that families of the abducted individuals have begun receiving ransom demands from the kidnappers.

The police have not disclosed information about the identity of the kidnappers, who are part of the criminal gangs known locally as 'bandits'. Kidnapping for ransom has become increasingly common in northern and central Nigeria.

Despite illegal, paying ransoms to secure the release of hostages is thought to be a common practice as families feel pressured to comply in order to ensure their loved ones' safety.

This incident is not connected to the prolonged Islamist insurgency in Nigeria's northeast, where extremist groups have been engaged in conflict with the state for over a decade.

International attention on Nigeria's security issues recently intensified after comments made by US President Donald Trump, who threatened military action over alleged persecution of Christians. However, Nigeria's federal government has denied that there is targeted violence against Christians.

On Monday, Information Minister Mohammed Idris remarked that although tensions with the US regarding these issues have been acknowledged, they have not escalated significantly.