Mass Kidnappings Escalate in Nigeria with Over 100 Villagers Abducted

Armed gangs have intensified their attacks in Nigeria's Kaduna state, kidnapping more than 100 villagers in a series of raids over the weekend.

At least 87 people were abducted from a village in Kaduna state's Kajuru district, with women and children among the hostages.
The recent kidnappings are part of a disturbing trend in northern Nigeria, where armed gangs carry out mass abductions for ransom.
Security forces have been deployed, but the absence of security in remote villages has hampered rescue efforts.
Families of the victims often face hefty ransoms, with some kidnappers demanding more than the annual per capita income in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government has made it illegal to pay ransoms, but many families see no other option to save their loved ones.