Kidnapping Industry Booms as Ransom Payments Hit N2.57bn in One Year

Nigeria’s kidnap-for-ransom crisis generated at least N2.57 billion for criminal groups between July 2024 and June 2025, according to a new report by SBM Intelligence, highlighting how abductions have evolved into a structured and profit-driven criminal industry.

The report, titled The Year Ahead at an Inflexion Point, examined the economic and political forces shaping Africa in 2025 and found that while kidnappers demanded an estimated N48 billion, they ultimately received N2.57 billion during the 12-month period.

SBM Intelligence noted that kidnappings in Nigeria are no longer sporadic crimes but increasingly organised operations thriving amid worsening insecurity across several regions.

What the report found

According to the analysis, at least 4,722 people were abducted across 997 incidents, with no fewer than 762 fatalities recorded during the period under review.

While ransom demands surged sharply in naira terms, the report observed that the actual value realised in dollar terms remained relatively modest due to currency depreciation. The N2.57 billion paid in ransom translates to approximately $1.66 million, only slightly higher than the $1.13 million equivalent of N653.7 million collected in 2022.

“Whereas N653.7 million in 2022 equalled approximately $1.13 million, the far larger sums now extracted yield only a modest increase in dollar terms, prompting criminals to inflate naira demands,” the report stated.

Northwest dominates kidnapping landscape

Nigeria’s Northwest region remained the epicentre of the kidnapping economy, accounting for 42.6 percent of all incidents and 62.2 percent of victims nationwide.

Zamfara State recorded the highest number of victims at 1,203, followed by Kaduna and Katsina States. SBM Intelligence attributed the concentration of kidnappings to vast, poorly governed rural areas and entrenched bandit networks capable of carrying out mass abductions with limited resistance.

By contrast, the Southwest recorded the lowest activity, accounting for just 5.3 percent of incidents and 3 percent of victims.

Mass abductions — incidents involving more than five victims — made up about 23 percent of all cases and were overwhelmingly concentrated in northern states. Some victims, the report said, were forced to work on bandit-controlled farms and mining sites, increasing the criminals’ leverage during ransom negotiations.

Violence escalates alongside ransom economy

Beyond kidnappings, the report highlighted persistent and escalating violence across multiple regions in 2025.

In the Northcentral, attacks linked to Fulani herdsmen continued, with Benue State particularly affected. A single attack in Katsina Ala Local Government Area on March 7 killed 15 people.

Zamfara State experienced repeated deadly incidents, including a March 13 attack in Tsafe Local Government Area that killed 40 people, alongside mass abductions in Maru LGA on the same day.

April and May were among the deadliest months of the year, with attacks in Plateau and Benue States killing over 100 people combined, while up to 100 individuals were abducted in Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto States.

The violence peaked in June with the Yelewata massacre in Guma LGA of Benue State, where about 200 people were killed in a single incident.

SBM Intelligence concluded that Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis has consolidated into an organised enterprise operating with increasing efficiency, posing severe humanitarian, economic, and governance risks.

What you should know

Nigeria has witnessed a sharp rise in violent attacks and mass abductions, intensifying calls for stronger security measures.

One of the most high-profile incidents occurred at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, where more than 300 students and 12 teachers were abducted in late November. While the victims were later released, whether ransom was paid remains unclear.

In response to growing insecurity, President Bola Tinubu recently approved an increase in Nigeria Police Force recruitment from 30,000 to 50,000 officers, citing emerging national security challenges.

Source: Nairametrics