The Myanmar military has reportedly abducted approximately 80 young people in a single day in Monywa, a key city in the Sagaing Region known for its strong resistance to junta rule.
The incident took place on the evening of 27 February 2026, when soldiers using private civilian vehicles began seizing young men across the city. According to local information groups and residents, the detainees were subsequently transported toward the military’s Northwestern Command headquarters.
Local activists report that the military is primarily targeting youths during the evening commute, as people return from work. “They are patrolling neighborhoods and entering teashops and bars to seize people,” a Monywa-based political activist told the Myanmar Pressphoto Agency (MPA). “The only thing they haven’t started yet is entering homes to drag people out”.
A housewife from Monywa’s Htan Taw ward confirmed that while exact figures remain difficult to verify without official military records, witnesses reported a high number of arrests. “Everyone is saying the numbers are very high,” she added.
Monywa has faced near-daily forced recruitment and abductions for over a year. Observers note that since the start of the 2025 open season, the military has intensified its tactics, often organizing festivals or public events only to wait and ambush young attendees as they head home.
The escalation in forced recruitment comes as the military continues to struggle with severe manpower shortages across the country. Sagaing Region remains one of the most volatile areas in Myanmar, with local resistance forces consistently challenging the military’s administrative and territorial control.
