7,825 Nigerians Abducted, ₦7.78bn Ransom Paid In One Year Report

7,825 Nigerians Abducted, ₦7.78bn Ransom Paid in One Year Report

No fewer than 7,825 Nigerians were kidnapped in 1,713 kidnapping and related incidents between July 2025 and June 2026, according to a report by SBM Intelligence. The Africa-focused market intelligence and security analysis firm disclosed this in its report titled “The Economics of Nigeria’s Kidnap Industry, 2026. According to the report, at least 1,142 people were killed during the period, while the number of kidnapping victims increased by 66 per cent compared with the previous reporting cycle.The report further revealed that Nigerians paid at least ₦7.78 billion in ransom during the 12-month period. Although the total ransom demanded by kidnappers fell from ₦48 billion to ₦22.9 billion, the amount actually paid more than tripled from ₦2.56 billion to ₦7.78 billion.SBM Intelligence said the ransom collection rate consequently rose from 5.35 per cent to 34 per cent, with the increase largely attributed to ransom payments made following two major mass abductions. The report identified the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad JAS faction of Boko Haram as the biggest beneficiary of ransom payments during the period. According to SBM, the group collected about 90 per cent of all ransom paid from just eight abduction incidents.Two major incidents alone accounted for approximately ₦7 billion of the ₦7.78 billion ransom paid. The report said ₦5 billion was paid for the release of 416 captives abducted from Ngoshe in Borno State, while another ₦2 billion was paid for 315 pupils and staff abducted from St Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State.SBM Intelligence said the geographical pattern of kidnapping remained largely unchanged, with the North-West recording the highest number of incidents, victims and deaths. Zamfara State was identified as the worst-hit state, recording 236 kidnapping incidents involving 1,921 victims, representing nearly a quarter of the national total. Overall, the North accounted for 93.7 per cent of all abducted persons, while the South accounted for 6.3 per cent. The report also noted that mass abductions had become the dominant pattern, with four out of every five victims taken during group seizures. Zamfara recorded 92 mass abductions, followed by Sokoto with 76. SBM said the resurgence of school abductions was particularly concerning, warning that such incidents have consequences for education, farming and public confidence. The security firm also warned that paying ransom does not guarantee the survival of kidnapped victims, noting that at least six people were killed even after ransom had been paid. It added that ransom-bearers were increasingly being abducted, while kidnappers had begun demanding items such as motorcycles, mobile phones, food, fuel and other goods in addition to cash. According to SBM, these demands indicate that kidnapping networks are adapting their operations to the limited cash resources available to victims and their families. The report further revealed a significant difference in ransom collection between criminal gangs and JAS. Bandits and criminal gangs operating within the wider kidnapping economy reportedly demanded ₦13.5 billion but collected only ₦719 million, representing a collection rate of about 5.3 per cent. By comparison, JAS demanded ₦9.2 billion and collected ₦7 billion, representing a 76 per cent collection rate.SBM Intelligence warned that the figures demonstrated how kidnapping, although widespread among criminal groups, had become an important source of funding for insurgent organisations. The firm called for stronger measures to disrupt the financial networks sustaining kidnapping and insurgency, while also addressing the economic conditions that drive people into criminal groups. The report warned that without a coordinated strategy targeting both the profitability and underlying causes of kidnapping, Nigeria risks allowing the crime to become an entrenched industry and a major funding mechanism for groups threatening national security. The findings come amid continued concerns over widespread abductions, banditry and insurgency across several parts of Nigeria.