Remains of Dozens of Suspected Kidnap Victims Found in Nigerian Forests

Mon Sep 28 2026 17:41:18 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Police recovered 28 skulls and bones from alleged kidnapping camps in Abia State forests, rekindling fears of brutal ransom gangs.

In Abia State's Umuaku and Nneato forests, Nigerian police uncovered the remains of at least 28 people, believed to be victims of kidnapping gangs that prey on travelers for ransom. The bodies were found during a security operation launched after intelligence reports. Though the suspects fled upon police arrival, authorities seized and dismantled the camps and are now conducting forensic work to identify the victims. The discovery comes amid recent mass kidnappings across northern Nigeria, where over 80 people were seized in two states over the weekend. Abia police call on residents to report suspicious activity as investigations continue.

Remains of dozens of suspected kidnap victims found in Nigerian forests

By Chris Ewokor and Olivia Ireland, reporting from Abuja

Police in southeastern Nigeria’s Abia State recovered the skulls and bones of at least 28 people from alleged criminal camps in the Umuaku and Nneato forests on Saturday. The bodies were uncovered during a security operation launched after intelligence reports suggested illicit activity in the Umunneochi area.

Police spokeswoman Maureen Chinaka said the suspects fled when officers arrived. “The criminal camps were subsequently dismantled, and twenty‑eight human skulls and bones, suspected to be kidnapping victims, were recovered,” she said.

The finding echoes longstanding concerns about kidnapping gangs that operate in remote forests across southeastern Nigeria, targeting motorists, travelers and locals for ransom payments.

Abia State Police Command launched the raid following intelligence regarding alleged criminal activity. Forensic teams are now working to identify the victims and determine the circumstances of their deaths.

Commissioner Wilfred Afolabi said the operation is part of an ongoing campaign to dismantle criminal hideouts in the state. Police have intensified surveillance in the area and urged residents to report suspicious activity.

The discovery follows a surge of abductions across northern Nigeria over the weekend: more than 80 people, mostly women, were seized in separate mass kidnappings in Niger and Zamfara states. These incidents highlight how ransom demands have become a key income source for both bandits and militant groups.

Abia State Police Command