Over 1,100 abductions recorded in four months - Investigation
By Usman Yahaya Ismail
Nigeria is facing a worsening wave of mass abductions, with at least 1,100 people reportedly kidnapped between January and April 2026, as attacks on rural communities and internally displaced persons intensify across several states.
The figures, drawn from multiple incidents nationwide, highlight a pattern of coordinated assaults by armed groups targeting vulnerable settlements, highways, places of worship, and farming communities, particularly in the North.
Security analysts and human rights observers say many of the victims are subjected to prolonged captivity under harsh conditions, including torture, starvation, sexual violence, forced labour, and in some cases, killings or enforced participation in criminal acts.
In one of the major incidents, an armed group invaded Woro village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State on February 3, killing about 200 people and abducting 176 others. In Zamfara State, 150 residents were abducted during coordinated attacks on Kurfa Danya and Kurfan Magaji villages in Bukkuyum Local Government Area, with women and children making up the majority of victims.
In Borno State, Boko Haram fighters abducted more than 100 displaced persons working in the Kumbul forest near Mafa on March 19, while over 400 people were reportedly seized during an attack on Ngoshe town in Gwoza Local Government Area on March 3.
Other incidents include the abduction of 57 people in Kasuwan Daji in Niger State on January 3, 92 persons in two separate attacks in Zamfara on February 19, and 30 worshippers abducted in Kaduna State during church raids on March 22. A separate attack on a commercial vehicle along the Abuja–Sokoto route also left 18 passengers in captivity.
On January 18, armed men stormed three churches in Kurmin Wali village, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, abducting 166 worshippers, though they were later released.
In many of the affected communities, survivors report that attacks are often accompanied by killings, looting, and destruction of homes and livelihoods, forcing families into extreme poverty and repeated ransom negotiations.
A resident of Woro community in Kwara State, whose family members were abducted, described the ordeal as devastating, saying victims remain in captivity months after the attack while their relatives struggle with uncertainty.
Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has also raised alarm over the situation in Borno State, calling for urgent federal intervention to secure the release of over 400 residents abducted in Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area.
Ndume said the attack left widespread destruction in the area and displaced many residents, most of whom are now taking refuge in nearby communities and internally displaced persons’ camps. He urged government agencies to urgently support reconstruction and humanitarian response efforts.
He further warned that insecurity in the North-East is worsening and called for improved military equipment and faster operational response to prevent further territorial gains by insurgents.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has indicated plans to involve youths, retired military personnel, and civilian specialists in demining operations as part of broader efforts to address the growing threat of improvised explosive devices in conflict-affected regions.
Human rights advocates argue that the scale and frequency of abductions reflect a deepening protection crisis, with rural communities bearing the highest burden due to weak security presence and delayed emergency response in remote areas.
They also warn that the fear of kidnapping is increasingly disrupting education, forcing school closures, and pushing some families to withdraw children from school, particularly girls, in a bid to avoid exposure to attacks.
Observers note that while some affected communities are rarely reported in the media, the cumulative impact of repeated incidents points to a sustained and expanding insecurity challenge across several parts of the country.
Authorities have continued to pledge intensified security operations, but calls are growing for more coordinated action to address both immediate rescues and long-term stabilization of affected regions.