By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa

The Nigeria Police Force have disputed a report from Amnesty International claiming that at least 1,100 people were kidnapped across the country between January and April 2026. 

The police described the figures as unverified and inaccurate.

Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, challenged the source of the data, noting that the human rights organization did not consult the police to cross-check records before publication. He urged the public to question the source of such findings.

Amnesty International had earlier called on the Federal Government to address the “horrifying” spike in mass abductions, particularly in northern Nigeria. The group reported that victims include rural community members and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The organization highlighted that these victims often face severe abuses, including torture, starvation, and rape. They noted that gunmen are increasingly using mass abductions as a lucrative business, often demanding high ransoms from impoverished families.

Specific incidents cited by Amnesty include an attack in Kwara State where 176 people were taken, the abduction of 150 people in Zamfara, and a mass kidnapping of over 100 IDPs in Borno State.

Amnesty’s Nigeria Director, Isa Sanusi, warned that the scale of the problem is likely underreported. He emphasized that the fear of kidnapping is also disrupting education and forcing families to sell their belongings to pay for releases.

Despite the police’s rebuttal, concerns over insecurity remain high. Former presidential candidate Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim also raised the alarm, claiming that mass killings and abductions are being “normalized” and dangerously underreported by the global community.