All articles tagged with #abductions
Unidentified gunmen attacked two villages in Nigeria, killing over 30 people and abducting several, including students from a Catholic school, shortly after the U.S. conducted military strikes in the country targeting Islamist militants.
Gunmen raided a village in Niger state, Nigeria, killing at least 30 people and abducting others, in a pattern of violence involving armed gangs using forest hideouts, with residents fearing for safety and security forces slow to respond.
A report by Save Ukraine and War Child U.K. reveals that over half of Ukrainian children under Russian occupation have faced indoctrination, with some subjected to torture, sexual violence, and forced militarization, as Russia aims to erase Ukrainian identity and potentially use children in its military efforts. The report highlights the severity of the abuses and calls for international action to return abducted children and address these crimes.
European officials warn that U.S. sanctions and funding disruptions are hindering efforts to track and repatriate Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, emphasizing the need for European funding to continue these critical human rights initiatives amidst ongoing conflict and legal challenges.
In Syria, at least 33 Alawite women and girls have gone missing or been abducted this year amid sectarian violence following Assad's fall, with families receiving ransom demands and concerns over targeted attacks on the minority community, prompting UN investigations and widespread fear.
Nearly 300 schoolchildren abducted from their school in northwest Nigeria's Kaduna state have been released after over two weeks in captivity, with at least 1,400 students having been kidnapped from Nigerian schools since 2014. The abductions have been attributed to bandit groups known for mass killings and kidnappings for ransom in the conflict-battered northern region, and while no group has claimed responsibility for the recent kidnapping, the identity of the abductors is known to some individuals. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu had vowed to rescue the children "without paying a dime" as ransom, but ransoms are commonly paid for kidnappings in the country.
The bodies of three Israelis, including two soldiers and a French-Israeli civilian, who were taken hostage and held in Gaza, have been recovered by the Israeli military. The hostages were abducted during Hamas' attacks in southern Israel on October 7. The IDF did not disclose the details of how they may have died or where they were found. Israel says 240 people were abducted during the attacks, which also resulted in 1,200 deaths. Over 100 captives were released last month in exchange for 240 women and teenagers imprisoned by Israel, but around 130 hostages still remain in Gaza.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has imposed sanctions on 108 individuals and 37 Russian groups, including a former prime minister and education minister, in an effort to combat wartime abductions of children from Ukraine and Russian terror. The sanctions include penalties ranging from 10-year sentences for individuals to five-year penalties for non-profit groups. Zelenskiy did not specify the wrongdoings associated with each individual or group. The list includes those involved in the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children from occupied territories, as well as individuals who aid Russian terror against Ukraine. The sanctioned groups include those working with children, and the measures also target individuals previously punished with similar penalties. The International Criminal Court recently issued an arrest warrant against Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova and President Vladimir Putin, accusing them of war crimes related to deporting children from Ukraine.
Families in Israel are frustrated with the lack of communication and clarity regarding their missing relatives, as the Israeli government struggles to identify the dead and determine the number of abductions. While 199 families have been notified that their relatives were among those abducted, the official count remains unclear. Israeli officials say they are still working to identify all the dead, and the death toll stands at 1,400 people in Israel and over 2,750 in Gaza. Families express frustration with the lack of updates and certainty, while some believe their loved ones are being held hostage by Hamas.
The Israeli military has announced that the bodies of some hostages abducted by Hamas militants have been found during operations in Gaza. Israel claims that at least 120 people were abducted during Hamas attacks on October 7, which resulted in over 1,300 deaths. The Israeli military has conducted localized raids and air strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza, including drone and rocket facilities. Officials have extended the deadline for civilians to leave the north of Gaza, urging them to move south to avoid harm.
Families of the over 100 people abducted by Hamas in Israel are living in silence, uncertainty, and pain as they wait for news about their loved ones. One mother recognized her daughter in a video, confirming she was alive but severely injured. Another wife is heartbroken after her husband was taken hostage by Hamas. A father fears his daughter has also been taken captive. The families are pleading for action and hoping for good news amidst the ongoing conflict.
Families of Israeli citizens who have gone missing in the wake of a large-scale terrorist attack by Hamas are expressing frustration and concern over the lack of communication from authorities. With over 700 people believed to be missing, families have taken to social media and formed support groups to aid in the search for their loved ones. They are calling on the government to provide more information and support during this difficult time. The Home Front Command and Israel Police have urged families to provide any available information to help identify the missing individuals.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed his willingness to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to resolve the issue of Japanese nationals abducted in the 1960s and 1970s. Pyongyang admitted to kidnapping 13 Japanese citizens, but Tokyo believes 17 were abducted and continues to investigate the fate of those who didn't return.
Ukraine has brought back 31 children from Russia who were taken during the war. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for President Vladimir Putin and Russian children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of abducting children from Ukraine. The exact number of Ukrainian children taken to Russia has been difficult to determine, but a statement by Ukraine’s UN ambassador said more than 19,500 children had been seized from their families or orphanages and forcibly deported.