Nigeria’s mass abductions: What lies behind the resurgence?
Northern Nigeria has witnessed two separate incidents of mass abductions within a week, both orchestrated by armed motorcycle-riding gangs operating from different forest locations in the region.
On Wednesday, reports emerged from a remote town in Borno state, revealing the abduction of women and children from a displaced persons camp by suspected Boko Haram militants.
The delay in reporting was attributed to the destruction of local mobile phone masts. The following day, over 280 children aged eight to 15, along with some teachers, were abducted by gunmen from a school in Kaduna state, hundreds of miles away, and taken to a nearby forest. There are local reports linking this attack to the al-Qaeda-affiliated Ansaru group.
This surge in mass kidnappings marks a return to a pattern that had somewhat subsided since the infamous Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction in April 2014, now resurfacing as the 10th anniversary of that tragedy approaches. The Kaduna incident stands as the largest school abduction since 2021.
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The timing of these abductions, just before the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, adds a layer of complexity to the situation. Victims, in the past, have recounted being compelled to perform menial tasks in forest camps.
Kidnap-for-ransom remains a lucrative enterprise in Nigeria, despite the illegality of paying ransoms.
Since President Bola Tinubu assumed power in May of the previous year, over 4,700 people have been kidnapped, highlighting the persistent challenge faced by the government.
Economic desperation, worsened by Nigeria’s foreign exchange issues and skyrocketing food prices, has contributed to the rise in kidnappings.
Gangs, driven by the need for funds, have demanded not only money but also food, motorcycles, and petrol in exchange for hostages.
The country’s porous and insecure borders, coupled with internal insecurity and insurgent violence in neighboring regions, provide a conducive environment for criminal activities.
Forest reserves along the border have become operational bases for these gangs. To address this crisis, experts emphasize the need for transnational cooperation with neighboring countries like Niger, Cameroon, and Chad.
However, the key to success lies not only in collaboration but also in the authorities’ commitment to bringing perpetrators to justice, a crucial step in curbing the increasing impunity surrounding these abductions.
