1,100 Abducted in Northern Nigeria in Four Months, Amnesty International Raises Alarm

Amnesty International has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently address what it described as a “horrifying spate 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, April 11, the global human rights organisation said rural communities and internally displaced persons (IDPs) bear the brunt of the crisis. Victims are frequently subjected to torture, starvation, rape, and forced participation in atrocities. 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, Amnesty International’s Nigeria director. “Some stay months at the mercy of gunmen in a punishing situation. Estimates of the number of abductions by gunmen and armed groups across Nigeria vary, and some of the commonly cited figures vastly understate the scale of the problem.”

The numbers

The report documents a series of major incidents across multiple states:

On February 3, armed men invaded Woro village in Kaiama LGA, Kwara State, killing around 200 people and abducting 176 others. In Zamfara State, 150 people, mostly women and children, were taken during coordinated attacks on Kurfa Danya and Kurfan Magaji villages in Bukkuyum LGA in early April.

In Borno State, Boko Haram fighters abducted over 100 displaced persons working in Kumbul forest near Mafa on March 19. Earlier, on March 3, more than 400 people were kidnapped during an attack on Ngoshe town in Gwoza LGA.

Other documented incidents include 57 people abducted in Niger State on January 3; 92 people taken across Anka and Tsafe LGAs in Zamfara on February 19; 30 worshippers seized during attacks on three churches in Kachia LGA, Kaduna State on March 22; and 18 passengers travelling from Abuja to Sokoto kidnapped along a route in Zamfara on March 30.

On January 18, gunmen attacked three churches during morning worship in Kurmin Wali village, Kajuru LGA, Kaduna State, abducting at least 166 people who were later reported released.

Police pushback

The Nigeria Police Force pushed back against the report. Force Public Relations Officer Anthony Placid questioned Amnesty’s data, saying the organisation did not consult the police before publishing.

“What is their source of information? They didn’t consult the police or cross-check with us,” Placid said. “We have our records. And they didn’t check with us. If they didn’t consult us, then you should know better. Ask for the source of their report.”

Amnesty has stood by its findings, insisting the documented incidents are verifiable and that the true scale of the crisis is likely worse than reported figures suggest.

Human cost

Beyond the statistics, the report includes harrowing accounts from survivors. A resident of Woro community in Kwara told Amnesty: “They didn’t just kill; they stole our life away. They abducted 176 people, including my second wife and my three daughters. One of them is only two years old. I have seen the video they posted on social media. I heard my wife’s voice. I saw my people. It has been almost two months now, and they are still in that forest.”

The organisation also warned that the kidnapping crisis is disrupting education across the region. Thousands of children have reportedly dropped out of school, and in some cases, families are forcing underage girls into early marriage to reduce the risk of abduction.

Families who cannot afford ransom face an impossible choice. Many sell everything they own or rely on community fundraising to secure the release of loved ones. Those who cannot pay face death, disappearance, or prolonged captivity.

Sources: Amnesty International, Daily Post, Punch, Sahara Reporters, Per Second News, Reuters