Gangs In Nigeria Again Kidnapped, Victims This Time 13 Women And Babies

JAKARTA - Armed groups kidnapped 13 women and a baby during an overnight raid in northeastern Nigeria, the latest of a series of mass kidnappings that rocked the western African country.

A bride and 10 of her bride's entourage were among those kidnapped from Saturday night to Sunday from Chacho Village in Sokoto State, a resident told AFP, quoted from Al Arabiya (1/12).

In recent weeks, attackers have kidnapped hundreds of people across Nigeria, who have struggled to respond to threats posed by extremist groups and criminal gangs known locally as "bandite."

The riots have added to pressure on the Nigerian government, with the President of Tinubu Ball announcing a national state of emergency on Wednesday last week.

Separately, US President Donald Trump has threatened military intervention in Africa's most populous country over what he called the killing of Christians by radical extremists.

"The bandits stormed our village last night and kidnapped 14 people, including a bride and 10 accompanying the bride from a house in the Zango neighborhood," said a resident of Chacho Village, Aliyu Abdullahi.

In this Nigerian region, it has become a tradition for young brides to spend their wedding first night with the brides and grooms in their new home, and the new husband will settle later.

"A baby, the baby's mother, and another woman were also kidnapped," Abdullahi added.

Penculikan semakin meluas di Nigeria setelah kelompok ekstremist Boko Haram menculikan 276 gadis remaja di Chibok, di timur laut, yang memicu kecaman internasional.

In addition to radical extremists, bandits have also spread violence in northwestern and central Nigeria, where they kidnapped them for ransom, attacked villages, killed their residents and burned down houses after looting them.

According to Abdullahi, Chacho had been targeted by bandits in October, who kidnapped 13 people.

"We have to pay the ransom to secure freedom. Now, we are facing the same situation," he said.

A Nigerian intelligence report seen by AFP confirmed the attack.

"Sokoto saw a significant increase in the kidnapping initiated by bandits in November, culminating in the highest number of similar attacks in the past year," the report found.

The report points to the agreement reached by neighboring countries in the hope that bandits agree to halt their activities may be partly responsible for the increase.

Security experts frequently criticize these treaties, arguing the agreements allow gangs to defend themselves in their hiding places while continuing their attacks elsewhere.

"As a result, some bandits may move to areas with lower military pressure. This shift could lead to more mass kidnappings in places like Sokoto, which led to an increase in mass kidnapping attacks to ask for ransom," the report added.

Last week, the United Nations condemned a spike in mass kidnappings in north-central Nigeria, urging authorities to take steps to stop attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.

"We are shocked by the recent spike in mass kidnappings in central Nigeria," UN human rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan told reporters in Geneva.

"We urge Nigerian authorities, at all levels, to take all legal steps to ensure these heinous attacks are stopped and hold those responsible", he continued.

His comments comes as the recent kidnapping of hundreds of Nigerians, including nearly 350 schoolchildren in just days, has re-triggered heated debates over the country's persistent security crisis.

"At least 402 people, mostly schoolchildren, have been kidnapped in the states of Niger, Kebbi, Kwara and Borno since November 17," Kheetan said, adding "only 88 of those reported had been released or fled from his kidnappers."

He urged "the Nigerian authorities to ensure safe repatriation for all who are still pursuing them to their families, and to prevent further kidnappings."