A serious problem with safety has returned to Nigeria. On Sunday night, 28 Muslim travellers were taken from their bus. This happened in Plateau state. This area has many criminals. The kidnapping casts a sad shadow over the country's fight against violence. Police have started rescue missions. They have sent many people to the area. The families of the kidnapped are dealing with ransom demands.
The incident happened between two villages. The travellers were going to a religious meeting. Criminal gangs, called "bandits," are thought to be responsible. These groups often kidnap people for money. They use this money for their illegal actions. Police spokesperson Alabo Alfred said that "assets have been deployed." This is to help bring everyone back safely.
This bad event follows other kidnappings. It shows a continuing safety problem for Nigeria. Last month, 130 schoolchildren were freed in Niger state. This shows the big threat from these criminals. These criminal groups use the large areas of Nigeria. They carry out their bad actions easily.
These kidnappings have big effects on families and the country. Families suffer from stress and money problems. They often have to pay money. It is understood that paying money often solves kidnapping cases. This sadly encourages more crime. Nigerian leaders are under pressure to catch the criminals. They must also stop these criminal groups.
The world is watching Nigeria's safety problems. Other leaders have talked about this. Former US President Donald Trump spoke about Nigeria's challenges. These kidnappings show the many threats Nigeria faces. These include banditry and terrorism. It is very important to rescue the 28 travellers. This will help bring safety back. The next few days are very important.