The Nigeria Police Force has challenged a recent report by Amnesty International which claimed that at least 1,100 people were kidnapped across Nigeria within a three-month period.
Reacting on Sunday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, described the figure as unverified, insisting that the organisation failed to consult or cross-check its findings with security agencies before publication.
“What is their source of information? They didn’t consult the police or cross-check with us. We have our records,” he said, urging the public to question the credibility of the report.
Amnesty International had earlier raised alarm over worsening insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in the northern region. According to the organisation, between January and April 2026, over 1,100 people were abducted, mostly from rural communities and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
The group, through its Nigeria Director, Isa Sanusi, warned that the situation could be even worse than reported, noting that many cases go undocumented. It added that victims often face severe conditions, including torture, starvation, rape, and forced involvement in violent activities.
In its statement, Amnesty called on the administration of Bola Tinubu to urgently address what it described as a “horrifying spate of abductions,” stressing that the crisis continues to devastate families and communities.
The organisation cited multiple incidents across the country, including mass abductions in Zamfara, Borno, Niger, Kaduna, and Kwara states. It also highlighted the growing trend of ransom-driven kidnappings, with families reportedly selling assets or raising community funds to secure the release of loved ones.
Despite these claims, the police maintained that any credible crime data must be verified using official records, emphasising the need for collaboration between civil society organisations and security agencies to ensure accuracy.
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Meanwhile, former presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim raised separate concerns about what he described as the underreporting of killings across Nigeria. He warned that the scale of violence in several regions is being normalised, with insufficient national and international attention.
He pointed to recent attacks in states such as Kebbi, Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa, where dozens of people were reportedly killed in recurring incidents, stressing that the true extent of the crisis may be far greater than widely acknowledged.
The disagreement between the police and Amnesty International highlights ongoing concerns over data accuracy, transparency, and the broader challenge of tackling insecurity in Nigeria, as citizens continue to grapple with rising cases of abduction and violence.
