Amnesty International Nigeria has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently address the rising wave of abductions across northern Nigeria, revealing that at least 1,100 people were kidnapped between January and April 2026.
In a statement released on Saturday, the organisation described the trend as “horrifying,” warning that rural communities and internally displaced persons (IDPs) remain the most vulnerable targets of armed groups.
According to the statement, victims of abduction are often subjected to severe abuses, including torture, starvation, rape, and forced participation in atrocities, while many spend months in captivity under harsh conditions.
“Apart from killing people, gunmen are now on a rampage of abductions largely for lucrative ransom,” said Isa Sanusi, Country Director of Amnesty International, adding that widely cited figures may understate the true scale of the crisis.
The organisation cited multiple incidents across the country to illustrate the growing insecurity. On February 3, armed attackers reportedly killed about 200 people and abducted 176 others in Woro village, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. In Zamfara State, at least 150 people, mostly women and children, were abducted in early April during attacks on communities in Bukkuyum LGA.
In Borno State, fighters from Boko Haram were said to have abducted over 100 displaced persons in Kumbul forest on March 19, while more than 400 people were kidnapped during an attack on Ngoshe town in Gwoza LGA earlier in March.
Other reported cases include the abduction of 57 people in Niger State in January, 92 people in separate incidents in Zamfara State in February, and 30 worshippers taken during attacks on churches in Kaduna State in March. Additionally, 18 passengers travelling from Abuja to Sokoto were abducted along a route in Zamfara State on March 30.
Amnesty International also highlighted the human toll of the crisis, quoting a resident of Woro community who said his wife and three daughters, including a two-year-old child, were among those abducted nearly two months ago.
“They didn’t just kill, they stole our life away,” the resident said, describing how families are often forced to sell all their possessions or rely on community fundraising to pay ransom for loved ones.
The organisation warned that the persistent threat of abduction is disrupting education across the region, with thousands of children reportedly dropping out of school. In some cases, families are forcing underage girls into early marriage to reduce the risk of kidnapping.
It further accused Nigerian authorities of failing to meet their constitutional and international human rights obligations to protect citizens.
“This failure by the authorities to ensure the safety of the population constitutes a serious breach of their human rights obligations,” Sanusi said.
Amnesty International urged the federal government to take immediate and decisive action to secure the release of those abducted and to strengthen measures to protect vulnerable communities from further attacks.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
