Kidnapping

What's behind Nigeria's latest school abductions, church attack? - explainer

Here’s what to know about the recent wave of kidnappings and deadly attacks in Nigeria, who is behind them, and how the government is responding to the worsening security crisis.

An interior view of the Christ Apostolic Church, the day after an attack by gunmen in which people were killed and the pastor and some worshippers kidnapped, in the town of Eruku, Kwara state, Nigeria, November 19, 2025.
Houthi terrorists lead detained people on the day of their release in Sanaa, Yemen, January 25, 2025; illustrative.

‘We're ghosts of people’: Families of aid workers abducted by Houthis speak out

Nigerian Army soldiers patrol near the scene after a deadly gunmen attack in Yelwata, Benue State, Nigeria, June 16, 2025.

Gunmen in Nigeria kidnap over 200 Catholic school students, Christian association says

Nigeria Boko Haram special 390 R

Gunmen kidnap 52 students from Catholic school in Nigeria, local TV reports


Gunmen kill vice principal, abduct female students in attack on Nigerian school

The assailants, armed with rifles and reportedly using coordinated tactics, stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town around 1 a.m. local time.

Members of the Nigerian Police Force deploy a water cannon truck near a protest site where supporters of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), are demanding his release from prison, in Abuja, Nigeria, October 20, 2025.

Budapest police says 31-year-old woman wore a wig, posed as charity worker to kidnap newborn

"I can't have children, so I stole the newborn, but i already regret it," the suspect told investigators.

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US issues travel advisory to Niger after kidnapping

Government staff in Niger must travel in armored vehicles and observe a mandatory curfew, the department said, and restaurants and open-air markets are off limits to them.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken departs for Niger from Bole International Airport, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia March 16, 2023.

Manhunt in Israel after Arabic-speaking man attempts to abduct girl, force her into his car trunk

Witnesses reportedly chased off the suspect, preventing the abduction in the city’s main Sokolov Street.

Israel Police officers seen at the scene of a murder in Abu Snan, Israel, July 29, 2025

Taiba man indicted for planning to kidnap an IDF soldier

Azzam had consumed on social media, including on the Telegram app, Hamas-related content.

 IDF soldiers operate in the northern Gaza Strip, March 20, 2025

Police not doing enough to find Haymanot Kasau, family tells Knesset panel

Haymanot Kasau’s family accused police of neglect nearly two years after she disappeared, telling MKs her case would be treated differently if she weren’t Ethiopian.

 Nine-year-old Haymanot Kasau. The police released the image on February 26, 2024.

Ex-Shin Bet chief named in connection to kidnapping of German millionaire's children - report

According to the report, Peri's mission was to assemble the team of kidnappers, which consisted of eight people - most of them Israelis with a security background.

Yaakov Peri attends Yesh Atid faction meeting at the Israeli parliament on January 15, 2018.

Authorities thwart attempted terror attack in Jerusalem

A Palestinian was arrested in Jerusalem after attempting to carry out a terrorist attack, including a soldier kidnapping.

 An illustrative image of a person holding up handcuffed wrists as police car lights flash behind them.

Dozens of kidnapped Colombian soldiers released, says defense ministry

The soldiers were kidnapped on August 25 after clashes in a rural part of the El Retorno municipality left 11 guerrillas dead, including a commander of a dissident faction of the former FARC rebels.

Colombian soldiers stand guard as members of a humanitarian caravan comprising senators and social organisations, meet with residents, to demand ceasefire and peace in the Catatumbo region, after attacks by rebels from the leftist National Liberation Army, in the municipality of El Tarra, Colombia.

At least 34 soldiers kidnapped in Colombia after clashes with FARC dissidents

The clashes occurred in a rural part of the El Retorno municipality in the southeastern province of Guaviare and involved members of the Central General Staff

 A policeman stands next to a well where minerals taken from illegal gold mines are washed in Buritica, Colombia, on April 20, 2021. (REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez)

How an Israeli kidnapping comedy sold a million tickets

Saving Shuli-San was set for a June release, but the war with Iran made United King Films, the movie’s distributor, postpone the much-awaited film.

FROM LEFT, Ben Bachar, the film’s director, with actors Shalom Michaelshwilli and Avi Israelof, producer Moshe Edery, and actors Tzion Baruch and Emma Medding, as they toast ‘Saving Shuli-San’s millionth ticket sale.