28 Muslim Travelers Abducted by Armed Gunmen in Nigeria

Wed Dec 24 2025 04:18:29 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In Nigeria's central Plateau state, armed men have kidnapped 28 individuals traveling to an Islamic event. This alarming incident raises concerns about rising insecurity in the region.

Armed gunmen have kidnapped 28 Muslim travelers in Plateau state while they were en route to an Islamic event. This event is indicative of the ongoing insecurity in Nigeria, marked by a surge in kidnappings for ransom by criminal gangs. Local authorities have announced efforts to ensure the rescue of the abducted individuals, while families of the victims have begun receiving ransom demands.

Armed men have kidnapped 28 people traveling to an annual Islamic event in Nigeria's central Plateau state, local police told the BBC.

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 affected area to ensure that those abducted are rescued.

News of the abductions 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.

A journalist based in Plateau state reported that families of the latest victims have begun receiving ransom demands. The police have not provided information regarding the identity of the possible perpetrators.

Kidnapping for ransom by criminal gangs, commonly referred to as bandits, has become prevalent across parts of northern and central Nigeria. Even though the handing over of cash to secure the release of the abducted is illegal, it is often seen as a solution, allowing these gangs to fund their operations.

This incident in Plateau state is not related to the long-standing Islamist insurgency in Nigeria's northeast, where jihadist groups have been battling the state for more than a decade.

The continued insecurity in Nigeria gained renewed international attention in November when US President Donald Trump threatened a military response due to reports of targeting against Christians. However, Nigeria's government has denied that Christians are being specifically targeted.

Nigeria's Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, indicated that recent tensions with the US regarding insecurity and alleged persecution of Christians had been largely resolved, leading to better relations with Washington.

He added that trained and equipped forest guards will be deployed to secure remote areas used as hideouts by criminal groups to support military operations.

Additional reporting by Abayomi Adisa and BBC Monitoring