The remains of at least 28 people have been discovered in two forests in south-eastern Nigeria following a police security operation. Officers suspect the skeletal remains belong to kidnapping victims, though investigations to establish identities are ongoing. The discovery highlights the persistent threat posed by kidnapping gangs operating in remote forests across south-eastern Nigeria, who frequently target travellers and residents for ransom.

The remains were found in the Umuaku and Nneato forests in Abia State on Saturday, following intelligence reports of criminal activity in the Umunneochi area. When police arrived at the suspected criminal camps, the suspects fled, and officers subsequently recovered twenty-eight human skulls and bones. The discovery comes amid broader concerns about abduction for ransom becoming a significant criminal enterprise in Nigeria, with the article also noting that over the weekend more than 80 people were seized in separate kidnappings across northern states—nearly 50 farmers in Niger State and approximately 40 women in Zamfara State.