Gunmen Abduct Bride, Bridesmaids, Baby in Fresh Mass Kidnapping in Northeast Nigeria

Armed attackers have kidnapped 14 people including a bride, 10 bridesmaids, and a baby during an overnight raid on a village in northeastern Nigeria, marking yet another mass abduction in the country’s troubled region.

The attack, which occurred between Saturday night and early Sunday morning, saw gunmen storm the community and seize 13 women along with an infant, according to local authorities. It is the latest in a wave of violent kidnappings blamed on heavily armed criminal gangs operating across the region.

The incident adds to growing security concerns nationwide, prompting President Bola Tinubu to declare a national emergency over the surge in abductions. Communities in several northern states have been repeatedly targeted, with victims often taken for ransom or used as leverage in negotiations.

Officials said security forces have launched a search-and-rescue operation, though no further details were immediately available. The families of the kidnapped women are said to be in distress as they await news of their loved ones.

Nigeria has faced a rise in mass kidnappings in recent years, with armed groups exploiting poor security infrastructure and difficult terrain to carry out attacks on villages, roads, and schools. Authorities continue to face pressure to strengthen protection for vulnerable rural communities and bring an end to the escalating threat.