At least 28 people, including women and children, have been abducted by armed men in Nigeria’s central Plateau State while travelling to an annual Islamic religious event, according to police authorities.
The victims were seized on Sunday night after their bus was ambushed while moving between rural communities. The attackers reportedly stopped the vehicle before forcibly taking passengers into nearby bushland.
Police spokesperson Alabo Alfred confirmed the incident and said security forces have been deployed to the area as part of efforts to locate and rescue those abducted.
A journalist based in Plateau State told reporters that families of the victims have already begun receiving ransom demands, raising fears over the safety of those in captivity. Police have not disclosed the identity of the attackers or confirmed whether negotiations are under way.
The abduction comes barely a day after Nigerian authorities announced the release of the remaining 130 schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped last month from a Catholic boarding school in Niger State, one of the country’s worst mass kidnapping cases in recent years.
Kidnapping for ransom has become increasingly common across parts of northern and central Nigeria, with criminal gangs — locally referred to as bandits — frequently targeting travellers, schools, and religious gatherings. Although ransom payments are illegal, many cases are believed to be resolved through cash settlements.
Security officials have stressed that the Plateau State incident is not linked to the Islamist insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria, where jihadist groups have waged a violent campaign against the state for over a decade.
Nigeria’s worsening security situation has drawn international attention in recent months. In November, US President Donald Trump made comments alleging targeted attacks against Christians, remarks that Nigerian authorities firmly rejected.
The federal government has acknowledged the country’s security challenges but maintains that religious groups are not being singled out. On Monday, Information Minister Mohammed Idris said recent tensions with the United States over insecurity had largely been resolved, leading to improved diplomatic relations.
He also announced plans to deploy trained forest guards to secure remote areas often used by criminal gangs as hideouts, in support of ongoing military operations.
Authorities say rescue efforts are continuing as families anxiously await the safe return of their loved ones.