Nigeria: Bandits kidnap 87 people in Kaduna state May 13

Event

Armed bandits kidnapped 87 people traveling along the Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna Highway (Kaduna state) on Sunday, May 13. The bandits allegedly demanded ransoms from the families of the victims to secure their releases. As of Tuesday, May 15, at least two people have reportedly been killed and four additional travelers have been kidnapped by the bandits; it is unclear if all of the victims have been released.

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. The Nigerian army has begun Operation Idon Raini to reduce crime in the Birnin Gwari local government area in the coming weeks. Additional criminal activity, including abductions, are possible in Kaduna state in the near-term.

Context

Kidnap for ransom - both of high-net-worth Nigerians and of foreign nationals - is commonplace in the country. On April 16, one German national was reportedly kidnapped in the city of Kano (Kano state). On April 10, unidentified gunmen kidnapped the son of a Syrian businessman in Kano state; according to a police spokesperson, the victim was released on April 14.

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 reportedly launched an assault on Gwaska village (Birnin Gwari local government area), killing some 71 people. The violence and criminality 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.