JOS, Nigeria — Armed men abducted at least 28 travellers, including women and children, on Sunday night in Nigeria’s central Plateau State, according to local sources. The victims were en route to an annual Islamic event when their bus was stopped by gunmen, who forced passengers away at gunpoint.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement, and the identity of the attackers remains unclear. Witnesses described the assault as sudden and coordinated, leaving communities shaken.
Ransom Demands
Relatives of those abducted have already begun receiving ransom demands, according to local journalists. Although ransom payments are illegal under Nigerian law, analysts note that they remain a common way kidnappings are resolved, fueling the finances of armed groups often referred to locally as “bandits.”
A Pattern of Mass Abductions
The incident comes just a day after Nigerian authorities confirmed the release of 130 schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped from a Catholic boarding school in Niger State last month. While that rescue raised hopes of improved security, the Plateau attack underscores the persistent risks faced by civilians across northern and central Nigeria.
Kidnappings have become a defining feature of Nigeria’s insecurity, with gangs targeting travellers, villages, and schools. Unlike the Islamist insurgency in the northeast, these abductions are largely criminal in nature, driven by ransom payments rather than ideology.
International Attention
Nigeria’s security crisis has drawn renewed global scrutiny. In November, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to send troops to Nigeria, claiming Christians were being targeted. The Nigerian government rejected those claims, insisting that insecurity affects all communities regardless of religion.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris said tensions with Washington had been “largely resolved,” and announced new measures, including the deployment of trained forest guards to patrol remote areas often used as hideouts by criminal gangs. These efforts will complement ongoing military operations.
Outlook
With more than 3,000 abductions reported nationwide in 2025, Nigeria faces mounting pressure to curb the epidemic of kidnappings. The Plateau incident is a stark reminder that despite recent successes, the country’s fight against banditry remains far from over.