Remains of dozens of suspected kidnap victims found in Nigerian forests

The skulls and bones of astatine slightest 28 radical person been recovered from suspected transgression camps successful Nigerian forests.

Police successful the southeastern authorities of Abia are investigating the identities of the remains recovered successful the Umuaku and Nneato forests connected Saturday aft a information cognition was carried retired successful the Umunneochi area.

Police spokeswoman Maureen Chinaka said the suspects fled erstwhile constabulary arrived.

The find is apt to revive concerns astir kidnapping gangs operating successful distant forests crossed parts of southeastern Nigeria, wherever transgression groups person often targeted motorists, travellers and residents for ransom.

According to Abia State Police Command, the raids were launched pursuing quality reports astir suspected transgression enactment successful the forests.

Officers fishy the remains beryllium to kidnapping victims, though forensic and different investigations are ongoing to found their identities and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

"Upon accomplishment of the Command's tactical operatives astatine the camps, the suspects fled. The transgression camps were subsequently dismantled. A full of twenty-eight quality skulls and bones, suspected to beryllium kidnap victims, were recovered," Chinaka said successful a statement.

Police said surveillance had been intensified successful the country arsenic officers sought to way down those who fled.

Abia authorities constabulary commissioner Wilfred Afolabi said the cognition was portion of an ongoing run to dismantle transgression hideouts successful the state.

Police person appealed to residents to study suspicious enactment and information concerns arsenic efforts proceed to place the victims and find whether the remains are connected to unresolved kidnapping cases successful the region.

Authorities person antecedently discovered decomposing bodies believed to beryllium linked to kidnapping activities during information raids successful Umunneochi.

Separately implicit the weekend, much than 80 people, mostly women, were seized successful abstracted wide kidnappings successful 2 states successful the country's north.

In an onslaught connected Sunday, astir 50 farmers were abducted by gunmen successful Niger State.

On Sunday, astir 40 different women were kidnapped successful the neighbouring authorities of Zamfara, according to 2 information reports seen by AFP and a section source.

Abductions for ransom person go a cardinal root of income for criminals, including bandits and militant Islamists, successful bluish Nigeria.