About 380 people abducted across Nigeria within 34 days- ACLED

Over 380 persons have been kidnapped across Nigeria between December 1, 2023 and January 3, 2024 according to Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) data obtained by International Center for Investigative Reporting (ICIR). 

The data collecting bureau tracks information on the dates, location, fatalities, actors, and types of all reported political violence and protest events worldwide, those kidnapped include women, children, men, farmers and students. 

Victims were abducted at different locations including their homes between the last month of last year and the first week of 2024 indicating the rising number of kidnappings in the country. 

These kidnappings, which have taken place in the first 8 months of Bola Tinubu’s presidency cut across Zamfara, Taraba, Sokoto, Rivers, Ogun, Nasarawa, Lagos, Kogi, Katsina, Kaduna, Enugu, Delta, Cross River, Benue, Anambra and the FCT, the recent epicenter. 

Residents of the FCT, particularly the Bwari area have experienced an increase in kidnapping activities with at least three housing estates attacked and about 30 persons abducted according to reports.  

Several other cases have been reported in Abuja since the beginning of 2024 including an incident where members of Abuja musician Omoba De Jumbo Beats’s band, were kidnapped on their way back from an event on Sunday, December 17, 2023. The sum of N10 million was demanded as ransom. 

However, according to ICIR, the FCT police command has denied the number of kidnapped victims in Abuja claiming that the figure is exaggerated.

A statement signed by the FCT Police Public Relation Officer, Josephine Adeh said:

“The FCT Police Command is aware of news circulating about the alleged kidnap of over 200 persons between December 23, 2023 and January 4, 2024 in Bwari and Kuje Area Councils. Consequently, the command wishes to categorically state that there are pockets of abductions in the mentioned communities, but the figure is being exaggerated to create fear and apprehension in the populace.”

In other parts of the country, six people were abducted in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State. In Akwa Ibom State, a judge at Oron High Court, Joy Unwana, and her driver were kidnapped on 18th December 2023 while a Catholic priest, Kingsley Eze, was abducted in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State among many others. 

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