In Abuja, police are investigating accusations of a mass kidnapping
The Nigerian police headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory said investigations were ongoing, urged calm, and appreciated people who had provided "useful information."
Boakyewaa Lawrencia 
Police in Nigeria said they're looking into a mass kidnapping in the capital, Abuja.
Armed gang kidnappings for ransom are becoming more regular across the country.
But what makes this case unique is that one of the purported hostages shared their position and appealed for aid via Twitter and WhatsApp while they were being transported away by the gunman to an unknown location.
That's how the kidnappings were first brought to the public's attention, spurring a social media outcry for authorities to intervene to save them.
The Twitter image claimed that 17 people had been kidnapped from various districts of Nigeria's capital, Abuja, including three pregnant women and two youngsters.
Nearly 40,000 people retweeted the post, and over 2,500 people contributed remarks, many of which urged Nigerian authorities to intervene.
The Nigerian police headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory said investigations were ongoing, urged calm, and appreciated people who had provided "useful information."
Nigerian authorities are coming under increasing fire for failing to address the country's chronic insecurity, which includes frequent killings and kidnappings.
