The skulls and bones of at least 28 people have been recovered from suspected criminal camps in Nigerian forests. Police in the southeastern state of Abia are investigating the identities of the remains, which were found in the Umuaku and Nneato forests on Saturday.
The discovery was made after a security operation in the Umunneochi area, during which suspects reportedly fled when police arrived. Police spokeswoman Maureen Chinaka stated that the criminal camps were subsequently dismantled.
Officers suspect the remains belong to kidnapping victims, though forensic and other investigations are ongoing to establish their identities and the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Abia state police commissioner Wilfred Afolabi said the operation is part of an ongoing campaign to dismantle criminal hideouts.
The discovery is likely to revive concerns about kidnapping gangs operating in remote forests across parts of southeastern Nigeria. Police have appealed to residents to report suspicious activity as efforts continue to identify the victims and determine if the remains are connected to unresolved kidnapping cases.