Gunmen Abduct 28 Muslim Travelers in Central Nigeria Amid Rising Security Concerns

Armed men have abducted , including women and children, from a bus in central Plateau state, local police reported. The victims were traveling to an annual Islamic event on , when their vehicle was ambushed. A local journalist confirmed that families of the hostages have already begun receiving ransom demands, underscoring the financial motive behind the attack.

A Persistent 'Kidnap-for-Ransom' Industry

Police spokesperson Alabo Alfred stated that authorities have "deployed assets" to the area to secure the victims' release, but the perpetrators' identities remain unknown. The incident is characteristic of criminal gangs, known locally as "bandits," who have turned kidnapping into a lucrative enterprise across northern and central .

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This abduction comes just a day after the release of from a separate mass kidnapping in neighboring Niger state last month. While paying ransoms is illegal, it's widely believed to be the most common method for resolving these cases. Officials have been quick to differentiate this criminal activity from the long-running Islamist insurgency in the country's northeast.

Domestic Insecurity and International Scrutiny

Nigeria's security crisis recently drew renewed international attention after former President Donald threatened to send troops to the country, alleging that Christians were being specifically targeted. The Nigerian federal government has acknowledged its security challenges but has consistently denied that any single religious group is being singled out.

On , Information Minister Mohammed Idris announced that recent tensions with Washington over the issue had been "largely resolved," leading to stronger bilateral relations. As part of its domestic response, he added that the government plans to deploy trained forest guards to secure remote areas used as hideouts by criminal groups, supplementing ongoing army operations.