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Nigeria: Mass abductions and discovery of human remains
Nigeria is facing a surge in violent crime, marked by mass abductions in the north and a gruesome discovery in the southeast. Over the weekend of September 26-27, 2026, armed gangs, locally known as ‘bandits’, carried out two major raids in Niger and Zamfara states. At least 87 people, primarily women, were reportedly abducted. In Niger State, approximately 47 farmers were taken while harvesting peanuts in the Mariga area. In Zamfara State, 40 women were kidnapped in Yargada, with local reports suggesting the total number of victims, including children, could be higher.
Simultaneously, in the southeastern state of Abia, police conducted a raid on suspected criminal camps in the Umuaku and Nneato forests. During the operation, suspects fled, leaving behind 28 human skulls and assorted bones suspected to be the remains of kidnapping victims. Authorities are currently conducting forensic investigations to identify the deceased.
This wave of violence highlights a growing ransom economy. According to SBM Intelligence, armed groups collected approximately 7.8 billion naira (nearly $6 million) in ransom payments between July 2025 and June 2026, a figure that represents a significant increase from the previous year.
Entities
Abia State Police · Abia State Police Command · Maureen Chinaka · Niger State · Nigeria · SBM Intelligence · Wilfred Afolabi · Zamfara State
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 5 SOURCES] Police in Abia State discovered 28 human skulls and bones suspected to belong to kidnapping victims. haitigazette.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · www.thetrentonline.com · chronicle.ng · www.gbcghanaonline.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Armed groups raised approximately 7.8 billion naira, or nearly $6 million, in ransom payments. haitigazette.com · dominicanrepublicpost.com · trinidadtribune.com
- [● 7 SOURCES] At least 47 farmers were kidnapped while harvesting peanuts in Niger State on Saturday. haitigazette.com · ledakarois.sn · dominicanrepublicpost.com · afrikactus.com · eveildesnations.info · +2 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] At least 87 people, primarily women, were abducted during two separate attacks over the weekend. haitigazette.com · ledakarois.sn · dominicanrepublicpost.com · afrikactus.com · eveildesnations.info · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] 40 women were kidnapped in Zamfara State on Sunday. haitigazette.com · ledakarois.sn · dominicanrepublicpost.com · afrikactus.com · eveildesnations.info · +1 more