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Pastor Gabriel, abducted by Jihadists in Plateau State on August 28,2026
By BONIFACE AKARAH
The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (InterSociety) has raised fresh concern over the safety of Igbo travellers and residents, claiming that no fewer than 120 Igbo Christians were among about 180 Christians abducted across Nigeria in August 2026.
The organisation said the figure represented about 70 per cent of the total Christian abductions it recorded for the month.
InterSociety, in its September 6 report, said Eastern travellers were particularly affected by a series of attacks along highways in Kogi, Benue and Ondo states.
“No fewer than 120 or about 70% of the abducted 180 Christians in the month of August 2026 are from Igbo Land,” the organisation said.
According to the report, at least 70 of 92 Eastern travellers abducted during attacks on August 9 and 13 were identified by InterSociety as Igbo Christians travelling towards Lagos and Abuja.
The organisation said the victims were travelling in several commercial vehicles, including buses belonging to Sunny Bright Mass Transit and Peace Mass Transit, as well as a Toyota Sienna.
It cited an Incident involving a young Igbo girl who had boarded an 18-seater bus with her father and other passengers before the vehicle was reportedly intercepted and attacked around Ore in Ondo State.
InterSociety said other Eastern passengers were also among those abducted in attacks in Kogi and Benue states during the same period.
The organisation further claimed that 10 of the 15 National Youth Service Corps members abducted in Kogi State on August 26 were young Igbo Christians.
It Identified them as Eke Onyinye, Johnson Samuel, Okuagba Chimerie, Ann Odinaka, Nwoba Chinedu, Nwaegbuna Favor, Sunday Chisom Sandra, Egbo Innocent, Ngwu Charles and Eze Chidinma.
InterSociety said the pattern was not limited to travellers, alleging that at least 15 Igbo Christian residents were also abducted within the South-East during August.
It cited the reported abduction of seven Christians, including a 10-month-old baby, in Ndegwu, Imo State, and the reported abduction of six other Christians in the Amaja and Igogoro communities of Enugu-Ezike in Enugu State.
The organisation said these incidents formed part of what it described as a wider pattern of attacks affecting Eastern Christian travellers and communities.
“It is therefore likely correct to say that no fewer than 120 or about 70% Igbo Land Christians were abducted in August 2026 alone, out of the estimated total of 180 Christians abducted by Islamic Jihadists across Nigeria,” InterSociety said.
InterSociety also said the number could be higher because of what it described as “dark figures” — cases it believed were not captured in its available data.
The report called attention to the need for stronger protection of travellers and vulnerable communities along major highways, particularly routes linking the South-East with other parts of the country.
