Lagos, Nigeria — In a harrowing incident, 13 women, including a bride and a baby, were abducted in a nighttime raid in Sokoto State, Nigeria, marking the latest in a series of abductions that have been on the rise in the country.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday, November 30, 2025, targeted the village of Chacho in Sokoto State. Among those abducted were a bride and 10 of her bridesmaids. This incident follows a pattern of violence in the region, where bandit gangs have been sowing chaos through kidnappings for ransom, village attacks, and looting.
Nigeria has been grappling with a surge in abductions in recent weeks, with the Chacho village being previously targeted in October 2025, when 13 people were kidnapped, and a ransom was paid for their release. The recent increase in abductions has been attributed to the movement of bandits into areas with less military pressure, as suggested by a Nigerian intelligence report. The report indicates that Sokoto experienced a significant increase in bandit-initiated abductions in November, reaching the highest number in the past year.
President Bola Tinubu declared a “nationwide security emergency” in response to the crisis, ordering increased military deployment and additional recruitment into the Armed Forces. The government’s response comes as neighboring states have reportedly struck deals with bandits, which may be contributing to the surge in abductions as bandits move into areas with less military pressure.
The incident has sparked concern among local communities and stakeholders, with many questioning the effectiveness of the government’s security measures. According to reports, just a week prior to the Chacho abduction, 13 Muslim women and girls were kidnapped near their farms in Borno state, further highlighting the severity of the situation.
The increase in abductions has not only affected the lives of the victims but also the broader community, with many residents living in fear and uncertainty. The violence has also had an economic impact, as businesses in affected areas struggle to operate normally.
Source: aljazeera
