Religious leader and bride among 26 abducted in Nigeria amid series of raids

In a disturbing escalation of mass abductions in Nigeria, armed groups kidnapped 26 individuals, including a pastor and a bride, in two distinct attacks. The incidents are part of a recent surge in kidnappings affecting the West African nation.

In Kogi State, central Nigeria, a gang stormed a remote rural church in Ejiba on Sunday, abducting a clergyman and 11 congregants, according to Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the states information commissioner. The police helicopter has arrived for land and air operations to rescue the kidnapped worshippers, Fanwo confirmed. He added that 12 people are confirmed missing, with searches ongoing for others who may have been taken.

Meanwhile, in Sokoto State, northeast Nigeria, a bride and 10 of her bridesmaids were among 14 people kidnapped overnight from the village of Chacho. Local resident Aliyu Abdullahi reported that a baby, the babys mother, and another woman were also taken in the attack. Chacho had previously experienced a similar raid in October, when 13 villagers were kidnapped and released after a ransom was paid.

These abductions occur amid a broader pattern of violence, with hundreds of Nigerians kidnapped for ransom in recent weeks. Criminal gangs, often called "bandits," operate alongside jihadist groups like Boko Haram, which drew global attention after kidnapping 276 schoolgirls in Chibok. These gangs frequently raid villages, abduct residents, kill inhabitants, and burn homes after looting.

Experts suggest that agreements by neighboring states to curb bandit activity may have unintentionally allowed gangs to consolidate in other areas, leading to an increase in mass kidnappings in locations such as Sokoto. Some bandits may be moving into areas with less military pressure, resulting in more large-scale abductions, the intelligence report noted.

In response to the rising security crisis, President Bola Tinubu declared a nationwide emergency. The unrest has also attracted international attention, with former US President Donald Trump threatening military intervention in Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians, a claim the Nigerian government disputes, emphasizing that both Christians and Muslims have suffered in ongoing conflicts.

Author: Sophia Brooks