11 Jun 2018 | 09:07 AM UTC
Nigeria: Bandits kidnap at least 20 people in Kaduna state June 8
Armed bandits kidnap over 20 people on Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Highway (Kaduna state) June 8;
Event
Armed bandits kidnapped between 23 and 25 people traveling along the Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Highway (Kaduna state) in two separate attacks on Friday, June 8. The bandits allegedly demanded ransoms from the families of the victims to secure their release. As of Monday, June 11, at least two of the abductees have reportedly been killed and six others injured by the bandits.
Officials from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) have advised individuals to avoid traveling along the affected route until proper security protocols are put in place. Additional criminal activity, including abductions, are possible in Kaduna state in the near-term.
Context
Kidnapping for ransom - both of high-net-worth Nigerians and of foreign nationals - is commonplace in the country. In the last three months, the kidnap rate along the Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Highway has increased significantly, with over 120 people kidnapped. On May 13 alone, 87 people were kidnapped on the highway; it remains unclear if any of the victims have been released.
In addition to kidnapping, other types of violent crime have been reported in the Birnin Gwari local government area in recent weeks. On May 5, bandits launched an assault on the village of Gwaska, killing some 71 people. The violence and criminal activity in the area are attributed to gangs active in communities on the border between Kaduna and Zamfara states.
Advice
The security environment in Nigeria is complex and is particularly concerning in the northeast and extreme south of the country due to the presence of armed groups, high crime rates, and the risk of kidnapping. Some Western governments consequently advise against travel to certain areas of the northeast (e.g. states of Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, and Jigawa as well as parts of Kano and Adamawa states) and the southern Niger Delta region (e.g. states of Delta, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers). Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel to these areas.
