Over 80 Abducted in Nigeria as Police Discover Human Remains Amid Spate of Kidnappings

More than 80 people have been reported missing in Nigeria following separate weekend attacks by armed gangs, while authorities announced the grim discovery of human remains suspected to belong to kidnapping victims in the southeastern state of Abia.

According to reports citing security reports and local sources, at least 87 individuals—predominantly women—were taken in the latest incidents. At least 47 farmers were seized by armed men while harvesting peanuts in northern Niger State on Saturday, followed by the abduction of 40 women in neighbouring Zamfara state on Sunday.

These raids in the Mariga area of Niger and Yargada in Zamfara highlight ongoing violence by criminal gangs locally referred to as "bandits." These groups frequently target villages for ransom kidnappings and cattle rustling, often leaving a trail of destruction.

In a separate development, police in Abia stated on Sunday that they recovered 28 human skulls and bones suspected to belong to kidnapped victims after raiding criminal camps located in local forests. Authorities confirmed that suspects fled the scene and that efforts are underway to apprehend them.

Mass abductions for ransom remain a persistent crisis across northwestern and north-central Nigeria. Research by Lagos-based consultancy SBM Intelligence indicates that armed groups collected approximately 7.8 billion naira in ransom payments between July 2025 and June 2026.

With presidential elections approaching in January, security and the rising cost of living have emerged as central political concerns, putting pressure on President Bola Tinubu over the government's approach to national security.