Remains of dozens of suspected kidnap victims found in Nigerian forests

What the report says

Police in south-eastern Nigeria say they have recovered the skulls and bones of at least 28 people from suspected criminal camps in forests in Abia state, according to BBC Africa. The remains were found on Saturday in the Umuaku and Nneato forests after a security operation in the Umunneochi area, where officers had acted on intelligence about suspected criminal activity.

Abia State Police Command said the people at the camps fled when tactical operatives arrived and that the sites were dismantled. Police spokeswoman Maureen Chinaka said investigators believe the remains may belong to kidnap victims, but forensic checks and other inquiries are still under way to determine identities and what happened to them. The police said surveillance in the area has been increased while officers try to track down those who escaped.

The discovery comes amid long-running concerns about kidnapping gangs using remote forests in parts of south-eastern Nigeria as hideouts and ransom bases. BBC Africa reported that abductions have affected motorists, travellers and residents in the region, and authorities have previously uncovered bodies believed to be linked to kidnapping during raids in Umunneochi. Police say the latest operation is part of a wider effort to clear criminal camps and reassure residents.