NIGERIA RECORDS 66% RISE IN KIDNAPPINGS AS OVER 1,100 PEOPLE ARE KILLED, N7.8BN PAID IN RANSOM

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By:Tajudeen Aminat

SBM Intelligence has reported that no fewer than 1,142 people were killed in 1,713 kidnapping and related incidents across Nigeria between July 2025 and June 2026, while N7.8 billion was paid as ransom.

According to the report, titled ‘The Capture of the Kidnap Economy’ and released on Thursday, 7,825 people were abducted during the period, representing a 66 per cent increase in the number of victims compared with the previous cycle.

The report noted that 895 civilians were among those killed in the recorded incidents, while the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad faction of Boko Haram accounted for 90 per cent of the total ransom paid.

It stated that although the total ransom demanded fell from N48 billion to N22.9 billion, actual payments rose from N2.56 billion to N7.78 billion, pushing the ransom collection rate from 5.35 per cent to 34 per cent.

SBM Intelligence attributed the sharp increase in ransom payments largely to eight incidents involving the JAS faction, with two major abductions accounting for N7 billion.

The report identified the N5 billion ransom reportedly paid for 416 captives abducted in Ngoshe, Borno State, and the N2 billion paid for 315 pupils and staff abducted from St Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State, as the two largest payments.

According to the report, the North accounted for 93.7 per cent of all reported abduction victims, while the South accounted for 6.3 per cent.

The Northwest recorded the highest number of incidents, victims and deaths, with Zamfara alone recording 236 kidnapping incidents involving 1,921 victims.

SBM Intelligence identified mass abduction as the most common method used by kidnappers during the period under review.

Zamfara recorded 92 mass abductions, while Sokoto followed with 76 incidents.

The report also noted a resurgence in school kidnappings, particularly following the Papiri incident, warning that such attacks have wider consequences for education, agriculture and public confidence.

It further revealed that payment of ransom did not always guarantee the safety of victims, as at least six victims were reportedly killed even after ransom had been paid.

In 14 incidents, kidnappers reportedly demanded items such as motorcycles, phones, food, fuel and other goods instead of cash.

The report said that while most kidnapping incidents were linked to bandits and criminal gangs, the bulk of the ransom eventually paid went to a single terrorist organisation.

It therefore recommended disrupting the financial networks that sustain insurgency while addressing the economic conditions that provide recruits for criminal groups.

SBM Intelligence warned that without a coordinated approach targeting both the profitability and underlying causes of kidnapping, Nigeria risked turning the crime into an established funding mechanism for groups threatening national stability.

It noted that ordinary bandits and criminal gangs demanded N13.5 billion but received only N719 million, representing a 5.3 per cent collection rate.

In contrast, the JAS faction reportedly demanded N9.2 billion and collected N7 billion, giving it a 76 per cent collection rate.