Over 1,100 Abducted In Three Months, Amnesty Faults FG
- Rights group says government ‘grossly failing’ in duty to protect lives
No fewer than 1,100 persons were abducted across Nigeria between January and March 2026, a new report by Amnesty International has revealed.
The organisation, in a statement released on April 11, 2026, said the figure could be higher due to underreporting in remote communities, warning that the worsening insecurity in northern Nigeria requires urgent government intervention.
Amnesty International Nigeria described the situation as alarming, noting that gunmen and armed groups have intensified mass abductions as a means of extorting ransom from residents.
“Apart from killing people, gunmen are now on a rampage of abductions – largely for lucrative ransom. Some stay months at the mercy of gunmen in punishing situations,” the Country Director, Isa Sanusi, said.
The group accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of failing in its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property, stating that the government was in “serious breach” of its human rights obligations.
According to the report, the spate of abductions cut across Zamfara, Borno, Kaduna and Kwara states, with several communities repeatedly attacked by armed groups.
It cited the March 3, 2026 attack on Ngoshe town in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, where suspected Boko Haram insurgents reportedly abducted over 400 residents.
In Kwara State, about 200 persons were said to have been killed, while 176 others were abducted during an attack on Woro village in Kaiama Local Government Area on February 3.
A resident of the community, whose wife and three daughters were abducted, said he had seen videos of the victims in captivity weeks after the incident.
Further attacks were recorded in Zamfara State, where about 150 persons, mostly women and children, were abducted in early April from communities in Bukkuyum Local Government Area.
Similarly, in Kaduna State, 30 worshippers were abducted from churches in Kachia Local Government Area on March 22, while 166 persons were earlier kidnapped during attacks on churches in Kajuru Local Government Area in January, although they were later released.
The rights group also highlighted the economic and social consequences of the abductions, noting that many families were forced to sell their belongings or rely on communal contributions to pay ransom.
“Families must dispose of everything they have to pay ransom, while villages often crowdfund to rescue their people. Those who could not pay are sometimes killed, disappeared or subjected to further torture,” Sanusi added.
Amnesty further warned that the rising insecurity is taking a toll on education, especially among girls in northern Nigeria, as many are being withdrawn from school over fears of abduction.
It noted that some families now resort to early marriage for underage girls as a form of protection, describing the trend as a setback to efforts aimed at improving school enrolment in the region.
The organisation criticised the Federal Government’s response as inadequate, stressing that many attacks, particularly in rural areas, were not captured in official data.
It called on authorities to take urgent steps to address the crisis, insisting that the protection of lives and property remains the primary responsibility of the state.
“This failure by the authorities to promote and ensure the security and safety of the population constitutes a serious breach of their human rights obligations,” Sanusi said.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency and the Ministry of Defence had yet to respond to the allegations.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
