Local politician, Swiss national among latest kidnap victims in Nigeria

Apoliticianwas abducted from his home in northernNigeriaon Monday and aSwissnationalwaskidnapped in a separate incident in the southwest over the weekend, authorities said.

Abductions for ransom have become a big problem in many areas ofNigeriain recent months, fuelled in part by economic hardship linked to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mohammed Sani Idris, a member of the state government in northern Niger State, was taken from his home in the village of Baban Tunga during the night by unknown assailants, a spokeswoman for the state governor said.

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In southwestern Ogun State, aSwissnationaland hisNigerian driver were abducted on Saturday after a gunfight between their police escort and unknown attackers, said Abimbola Oyeyemi, the state's police spokesman.

"In an exchange of gunfire, the police killed two of the bandits but the rest used thevictimsas human shields so the police couldn't act further," he said.

"Police and other security agencies have mobilised and are on the trail of the bandits to rescue thevictims."

The rise in abductions and armed robberies, especially in rural areas, is having a devastating effect onNigerian society, with food shortages on the rise as farmers are unable to access their fields, and people are too scared to travel anywhere.

The crisis is particularly bad in northwestern states, where more than 1,000 schoolchildren have beenkidnapped since December in attacks on schools. Some have been released following ransom payments.