Amanze Chinonye
Nigerian kidnappers collected at least 7.78 billion naira ($5.8 million) in confirmed ransom payments between July 2025 and June 2026, with mass abductions and a small number of high-value incidents accounting for most of the proceeds, according to a report by security consultancy SBM Intelligence.
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SBM recorded 7,825 kidnapping victims during the period, a 66% increase from the 4,722 victims recorded in the previous review cycle. The consultancy analysed 1,713 kidnapping and related incidents, comprising 1,411 kidnapping incidents and 302 related security operations.
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At least 1,142 people were killed during the period, including 895 civilians, compared with 762 deaths in the previous cycle.
The increase in ransom payments occurred despite a sharp fall in the amount demanded by kidnappers. Total ransom demands declined from about 48 billion naira in the previous period to 22.9 billion naira.
Confirmed ransom payments, however, rose from 2.56 billion naira to 7.78 billion naira, pushing the ransom collection rate the proportion of ransom demands eventually paid from 5.35% to about 34%, SBM said.
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The consultancy said the figures covered confirmed ransom payments and could underestimate the total amount paid because many ransom transactions are not publicly disclosed.
The Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad (JAS) faction of Boko Haram accounted for about 7 billion naira, or 90% of all recorded ransom payments during the period, despite being linked to only eight incidents.
JAS demanded about 9.2 billion naira across those incidents and collected roughly 7 billion naira, giving it a collection rate of about 76%, according to SBM. Two mass abductions accounted for the bulk of the ransom attributed to the group.
SBM said 416 people abducted in Ngoshe, Borno State, generated a ransom payment of 5 billion naira. A further 2 billion naira was paid following the abduction of 315 pupils and staff of St Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State.
The two incidents involved 731 victims and accounted for about 7 billion naira, or roughly 90% of all confirmed ransom payments recorded nationwide during the period.
The pattern was markedly different among bandits and other criminal kidnapping groups. They were linked to 146 incidents, demanded about 13.5 billion naira and collected roughly 719 million naira.
Their ransom collection rate was about 5.3%, compared with 76% for JAS, SBM said.
Mass abductions accounted for 79.5% of all kidnapping victims recorded during the period. Zamfara had the highest number of mass-abduction incidents, with 92, followed by Sokoto with 76.
The geographical distribution of kidnapping was also heavily concentrated in northern Nigeria. The North accounted for 93.7% of all recorded victims, compared with 6.3% in the South.
The Northwest recorded the highest number of kidnapping incidents, victims and deaths. Zamfara recorded 236 incidents involving 1,921 victims, the highest figures among the states reviewed and almost one-quarter of all victims nationwide.
Sokoto, Kaduna, Katsina and Kwara also recorded significant levels of kidnapping activity, according to SBM.
The report attributed the concentration of kidnapping in northern Nigeria to factors including the vulnerability of rural communities to armed banditry and insurgency, difficult terrain and gaps in security coverage.
The data also showed that ransom payment did not always result in the release or survival of captives. SBM recorded at least six incidents in which victims were killed after ransom had been paid.
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In some cases, people attempting to deliver ransom payments were themselves abducted. The consultancy also documented 14 incidents in which kidnappers demanded non-cash items, including motorcycles, mobile phones, food and fuel.
The figures show a significant difference between the volume of kidnapping activity and the distribution of ransom revenue. Bandits and other criminal groups accounted for more recorded incidents and ransom demands, but JAS accounted for the overwhelming majority of confirmed ransom payments.
The concentration of ransom revenue in eight JAS-linked incidents was driven largely by two mass abductions, which together generated about 7 billion naira.
SBM said the findings highlight the financial dimension of Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis and the role of mass abductions in generating large ransom payments.
The consultancy said addressing the problem would require efforts to disrupt the financial proceeds of kidnapping alongside measures aimed at reducing the security and economic conditions that enable armed groups and criminal networks to operate.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
