Amnesty International has issued a strong call to the Federal Government of Nigeria, urging immediate and decisive action to address the worsening insecurity across the country, particularly in the northern region where abductions have reached alarming levels.
In a statement released on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, the global rights organisation warned that Nigeria is currently facing a “horrifying spate” of kidnappings targeting vulnerable populations, including rural dwellers and internally displaced persons (IDPs). According to the group, no fewer than 1,100 individuals have been abducted between January and April 2026, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
The organisation’s Nigeria Director, Isa Sanusi, expressed deep concern over what he described as a rapidly escalating pattern of violence. He noted that victims of these abductions are frequently subjected to inhumane conditions, including torture, starvation, sexual violence, and, in some cases, forced participation in criminal or violent activities.
Amnesty International highlighted that the nature of insecurity in Nigeria has evolved beyond sporadic attacks into a systematic campaign of abductions largely driven by the pursuit of ransom. Armed groups, often referred to as bandits, have increasingly turned kidnapping into a lucrative enterprise, holding victims captive for extended periods under harsh and degrading conditions.
“Gunmen are no longer just killing people; they are now on a rampage of abductions,” the statement noted. “Many victims spend months in captivity, enduring punishing conditions while their families struggle to meet ransom demands.”
The group further pointed out that widely reported figures on abductions may significantly underestimate the true scale of the problem, suggesting that many incidents go unreported due to fear, stigma, or lack of access to communication channels.
To illustrate the gravity of the situation, Amnesty International cited a series of recent attacks across several northern states. Among them was a devastating assault on Woro village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State on February 3, during which approximately 200 people were reportedly killed and 176 abducted.
In Zamfara State, a region that has become synonymous with banditry, the organisation documented multiple incidents, including the abduction of 150 individuals in Bukkuyum Local Government Area in early April. Additional cases included 92 people kidnapped on February 19 across Anka and Tsafe local government areas.
Similarly, in Borno State, insurgent groups linked to Boko Haram were reported to have abducted more than 100 internally displaced persons near Mafa in March. On March 3, over 400 people were taken from Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area, highlighting the persistent threat posed by insurgent activities in the North-East.
The report also detailed incidents in Niger and Kaduna states. In Niger State, 57 people were kidnapped in January, while in Kaduna, gunmen attacked three churches in Kurmin Wali village, abducting at least 166 worshippers during a morning service on January 18. Although some of the victims were later released, the psychological and economic toll on affected communities remains profound.
Amnesty International included testimonies from survivors and affected families to underscore the human cost of the crisis. One resident of Woro community recounted the devastating impact of the attack on his family, revealing that his second wife and three daughters, including a two-year-old child, were among those abducted.
“They didn’t just kill; they stole our lives away,” he said, describing the anguish of seeing videos of his loved ones in captivity circulating on social media months after their abduction.
The organisation warned that the widespread nature of these kidnappings is pushing families into extreme poverty. In many cases, households are forced to sell all their possessions or rely on community fundraising efforts to meet ransom demands. Those unable to pay often face dire consequences, including prolonged captivity, torture, or even death.
Beyond the immediate human toll, Amnesty International emphasised the broader societal impact of the crisis. The fear of abduction has severely disrupted education in affected areas, with many parents withdrawing their children from school for safety reasons. In some communities, underage girls are being married off early as a perceived protective measure against kidnapping.
The group criticised Nigerian authorities for what it described as a failure to fulfil their constitutional and international obligations to protect citizens. It argued that the government’s inability to curb the wave of abductions represents a significant breach of human rights commitments under both the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“This failure to ensure the safety and security of the population is deeply concerning,” Sanusi stated. “The government must act urgently to protect lives and restore confidence in its ability to safeguard citizens.”
Amnesty’s warning comes amid ongoing concerns about the capacity of Nigeria’s security architecture to effectively respond to the dual threats of banditry in the North-West and insurgency in the North-East.
In response to the growing insecurity, Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the Armed Forces. In a condolence message following a deadly attack on a military base in Benisheikh, Borno State, the President pledged continued investment in military equipment and personnel welfare.
The attack, reportedly carried out by suspected Boko Haram fighters, resulted in the death of Brigadier-General O.O. Braimah and several soldiers, marking the second high-profile military casualty in recent months after the killing of Brigadier-General Musa Uba in November 2025.
Despite these assurances, Amnesty International insists that more comprehensive and coordinated efforts are required to address the root causes of insecurity and dismantle the networks sustaining armed groups.
The organisation called for a multi-pronged approach that includes strengthening intelligence gathering, improving rapid response capabilities, ensuring accountability for security lapses, and addressing socio-economic conditions that fuel violence.
As the crisis continues to unfold, Amnesty International urged the Nigerian government to prioritise the protection of vulnerable populations and take decisive steps to end what it described as an escalating “crisis of abduction” that threatens the fabric of society.
