Nigeria recorded at least 7,825 abduction victims between July 2025 and June 2026, according to a new report by geopolitical research firm SBM Intelligence.
The report, titled “The Capture of Nigeria’s Kidnap Economy,” documented 1,411 kidnapping incidents and 302 security-force operations connected to kidnapping, bringing the total number of kidnap and kidnap-related incidents to 1,713.
According to SaharaReporters, the incidents resulted in at least 1,142 deaths during the 12-month period.
Ransom Payments Rise to ₦7.78bn
Kidnappers and allied armed groups reportedly demanded approximately ₦22.856 billion but received at least ₦7.779 billion, representing a collection rate of about 34 per cent.
Although the amount demanded declined from ₦48 billion in the previous reporting cycle, confirmed payments more than tripled from ₦2.56 billion to ₦7.78 billion.
SBM said the reported payment figure should be treated as a conservative minimum because many ransom transactions are not publicly disclosed or independently verifiable.
Abductions Rise by 66 Per Cent
The latest figure represents a 66 per cent increase from the previous cycle, when 4,722 people were abducted in 997 incidents.
Deaths also increased from 762 to 1,142, representing a rise of approximately 50 per cent.
Of those killed during the latest reporting period, 895 were civilians, 179 were suspected kidnappers and 68 were security personnel.
Zamfara Records Highest Number of Victims
Zamfara State recorded the highest number of kidnapping incidents and victims, with 236 incidents involving 1,921 people.
Katsina followed with 187 incidents and 559 victims, while Sokoto recorded 179 incidents involving 1,157 abductees.
Kaduna State recorded 134 incidents and 814 victims.
SBM attributed Katsina’s comparatively lower number of victims to resistance by state-backed vigilante groups, including the Katsina State Community Security Watch Corps.
The report linked Sokoto’s figures to the activities of bandits, smaller kidnapping gangs and the Lakurawa armed group.
Northern Nigeria Accounts for 93.7 Per Cent
Northern Nigeria accounted for 7,334 of the 7,825 recorded victims, representing 93.7 per cent of all abductions.
The southern states recorded 491 victims, representing approximately 6.3 per cent of the national figure.
The North-East recorded the highest ransom collection rate at 85.7 per cent, while the South-East had the lowest at 1.3 per cent. The South-South recorded a collection rate of 1.8 per cent.
Terror Group Allegedly Collected 90 Per Cent
SBM said the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad faction of Boko Haram and associated cells collected approximately ₦7 billion, representing 90 per cent of the documented ransom payments.
The amount was reportedly generated from only eight incidents, including two mass abductions that accounted for almost the entire national ransom figure.
The report identified a reported ₦5 billion payment connected to 416 captives taken from Ngoshe in Borno State and ₦2 billion linked to the abduction of 315 pupils and staff from St Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State.
Initial Ransom Demands Often Negotiated Down
SBM explained that its methodology records the first amount demanded by abductors after contacting victims’ families.
These initial demands are often reduced during negotiations based on the financial circumstances of the victims and their relatives.
In some cases, families also provide food, motorcycles, telephones, fuel and other items when they cannot meet the cash demand.
The report warned that kidnapping was increasingly operating not only as a criminal enterprise but also as a funding mechanism for armed and terrorist organisations.
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