35 women who were returning from a wedding were kidnapped in northern Nigeria
Gunmen have abducted about 35 women who were returning home from a wedding in Katsina State in northwest Nigeria. The incident is considered to be the biggest recent kidnapping in a series of attacks witnessed in the country.
The spokesperson of the Nigerian police, Abubakar Aliyu has said that suspected bandits ambushed and kidnapped about 35 women as they were returning home from a wedding in the Sabuwa area, last Friday night. Katsina State Internal Security Commissioner Nasiru Muaz has indicated that the number of people abducted accompanying the bride to her home could be higher, and it is possible that 53 people were abducted. He added that it is very dangerous for the procession of women carrying the bride to travel in the dark in an area known for robbery, adding that armed men took advantage of the opportunity and kidnapped them. The Nigerian police are still looking for the kidnapped women. Kidnapping for ransom is a serious problem in Nigeria, with criminal gangs carrying out kidnappings on highways, homes and schools. Kidnapping became a serious problem in Nigeria at the beginning of the third millennium, but experts attribute the recent increase in these incidents to the economic crisis that pushes some groups to engage in criminal activities to earn money.
