Nigeria orders manhunt after kidnappers post captive video

Key facts

Nigeria’s president has ordered a manhunt following the release of a video reportedly uploaded by kidnappers.

The footage shows dozens of people sitting in a forest.

Men, women and children are visible in the video.

The available report does not identify the victims, their location or those responsible for the reported kidnapping.

BBC Africa published its report on 25 August 2026.

Why it matters

The footage indicates that a large group, including children, may be involved, while the president’s order places the case under national-level attention. However, the lack of confirmed information about the victims, location and kidnappers makes it difficult to assess their immediate condition or the scope of the manhunt.

Nigeria’s president has ordered a manhunt after kidnappers reportedly uploaded a video showing dozens of apparent victims in a forest, according to BBC Africa. The footage includes men, women and children sitting together in the wooded area.

The available evidence does not identify the president by name or say which security agencies have been directed to conduct the manhunt. It also does not provide the location of the forest, the date the footage was recorded or details about how the video was obtained.

No information has been supplied about the identities or nationalities of the people shown. Their current condition is also unknown, and the report summary does not say whether authorities have independently authenticated the recording or established when the reported kidnapping occurred.

The evidence does not state whether the kidnappers have issued demands, claimed affiliation with any group or contacted the victims’ families or the authorities. It is also unclear whether the presidential order is focused solely on finding the suspected kidnappers or includes a separate operation to locate the people seen in the footage.

The presence of adults and children in the video makes the case significant, but the limited confirmed information leaves major questions unresolved. Further official details would be needed to establish where the victims are being held, who is responsible and what steps are being taken to secure their safety.