ICC dismisses petition to probe Nigeria kidnappings

The International Criminal Court (ICC) dismissed a petition seeking an investigation into alleged systemic kidnappings in Nigeria as crimes against humanity. The decision was made by Pre-Trial Chamber II on September 1, 2026, on the grounds that it lacked legal basis. Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi criticized the procedure through which the petition was assigned to the chamber, stating it was initiated without prior verification of the chamber's competence.