Police Confirm Gunmen Abduct 28 Muslim Travellers in Plateau State

Police Confirm Gunmen Abduct 28 Muslim Travellers in Plateau State

At least 28 people, including women and children, have been kidnapped by armed men while travelling to an annual Islamic event in Plateau State, central Nigeria, police authorities have confirmed.

The victims were abducted on Sunday night when gunmen ambushed their commercial bus while it was travelling between rural communities in the state.

Confirming the incident, the Plateau State Police Command spokesperson, Alabo Alfred, said security agencies have deployed assets to the area to ensure the rescue of the abducted passengers.

“Efforts are ongoing, and necessary security assets have been deployed to secure the release of the victims,” the police said.

A journalist based in Plateau State disclosed that families of the victims have begun receiving ransom demands, although the police have yet to comment on the identities of the attackers.

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The latest abduction comes barely a day after Nigerian authorities announced the release of 130 schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped from a Catholic boarding school in Niger State last month.

Kidnapping for ransom, largely carried out by criminal gangs known locally as bandits, has become increasingly common across northern and central Nigeria. Although ransom payments are illegal, many cases are believed to be resolved through such means, providing a major source of funding for criminal networks.

Security experts have stressed that the Plateau State kidnapping is unrelated to the Islamist insurgency in Nigeria’s North-East, where jihadist groups have waged a violent campaign against the state for more than a decade.

Nigeria’s worsening security situation drew renewed international attention in November after United States President Donald Trump threatened possible military action, alleging that Christians were being targeted in the country. The Nigerian government has acknowledged security challenges but firmly denied claims of religious persecution.

On Monday, the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, said recent diplomatic tensions with the United States over insecurity had been “largely resolved,” leading to stronger bilateral relations.

He added that the federal government plans to deploy trained and equipped forest guards to secure forests and remote areas commonly used as hideouts by kidnappers and other criminal groups, in support of ongoing military operations.

Police Confirm Gunmen Abduct 28 Muslim Travellers in Plateau State

BBC