Armed attackers have kidnapped 28 Muslim travellers, including women and children, in Nigeria’s central Plateau State, after stopping a bus en route to an annual Islamic gathering, local sources and residents said.
What Happened
• The abduction occurred late Sunday night as the bus travelled between rural communities.
• Gunmen ambushed the vehicle and forced passengers away at gunpoint.
• A journalist in Plateau State said families have begun receiving ransom demands, though the kidnappers’ identities remain unknown.
Authorities had not issued an official statement by the time of reporting.
Security Context
The incident underscores Nigeria’s persistent kidnapping-for-ransom crisis, especially across parts of the north and central regions. Criminal gangs — commonly referred to as bandits — frequently target highways and rural routes, abducting travellers to extort payments. While ransom payments are illegal, residents and analysts say many cases are quietly resolved through negotiations, providing gangs with funds to sustain their operations.
Local sources and security analysts said the Plateau abductions do not appear linked to the Islamist insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast, where jihadist groups have battled government forces for more than a decade.
Recent Developments
The kidnappings came just a day after Nigerian officials announced the release of 130 pupils and teachers who were seized last month from a Catholic boarding school in Niger State, following a separate mass abduction.
International Attention and Government Response
Nigeria’s security challenges drew renewed international scrutiny in November, when U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to deploy troops, alleging targeted attacks on Christians. The Nigerian government has acknowledged worsening insecurity but rejects claims of religiously motivated violence, arguing that criminality affects multiple communities.
On Monday, Information Minister Mohammed Idris said tensions with Washington over security concerns had been “largely resolved” and described bilateral relations as improving. He also announced plans to deploy trained forest guards to patrol remote areas and forests commonly used by criminal groups, complementing ongoing military operations.
As families await news of the abducted travellers, the latest incident adds to mounting pressure on authorities to improve road security and curb criminal violence in Nigeria’s heartland.
Source: Africa Publicity
