The Nigerian kidnapping crisis has escalated into a multi-billion-naira criminal enterprise, as Nigerians paid about N2.5bn ransom to kidnappers between July 2024 and June 2025.
This situation was contained in a report released by a geopolitical research firm, SB Morgen (SBM) Intelligence.
In the report titled “Economics of Nigeria’s Kidnap Industry,” it was gathered that kidnappers demanded about N48 billion from 4,722 abductions recorded between July 2024 and June 2025.
According to the report, the 4,722 abductions were recorded across 997 incidents which also resulted in at least 762 deaths.
The report also revealed that out of the N48bn requested, Nigerians were only able to pay N2.5bn ransom to kidnappers to secure the release of their loved ones.
Comparing with other years, the report noted that in 2022, Nigerians paid a total of N653.7m ransom to kidnappers, while in 2023, the amount paid dropped to N302 million.
The report noted: “Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis has evolved into a lucrative criminal enterprise, with N2.56 billion ($1.66 million) confirmed in ransom payments and 4,722 civilians abducted in just one year.
“The Northwest remains the most violent, while the Southeast and South-South face targeted religious abductions and financial extortion.
“Unless security forces dismantle these networks and address root causes—poverty, unemployment, and weak law enforcement—the cycle of kidnappings, ransoms, and deaths will continue unchecked, leaving ordinary Nigerians in perpetual fear.
“Although the NGN amount paid rose sharply to N1.05 billion in 2024, the USD equivalent was only around $655,000.
“The latest figures show a new high, with N2.56 billion paid, which amounts to approximately $1.66 million.
“This significant divergence between the NGN and USD amounts reflects the ongoing devaluation of the Nigerian currency.
“As the cost of living soars and legitimate livelihood opportunities dwindle, kidnapping has become a highly organised and pervasive criminal industry.”
Giving a state analysis, SBM, in the report revealed that out of the 4,722 abductions reported, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina had the highest numbers of incidents and victims.
The report continued: “In the period under review, Katsina led in the number of kidnap-related incidents with 131, accounting for 13.1% of the national total.
“However, this does not correspond with the total number of people kidnapped. That record belongs to Zamfara, whose 1203 kidnapped residents account for 25.4% of the total.
“Of the top five states in the number of incidents, four-fifths are northern, with Katsina (131), Kaduna (123), Zamfara (113,) and Niger (40) representing two northern geopolitical zones (Northwest and Northcentral).
“In comparison, Delta completes the five states with 49 incidents.
“This means that the most kidnap-infested state in the South accounts for a little less than 5% of the whole, making the kidnap crisis a predominantly northern issue.”
SBM noted that the kidnappers became bolder this year, requesting huge sums of ransom.
According to the report, of the N48 billion demanded as payment, the highest amount demanded came from the abduction of Chidimma and Precious Enuma, as well as their aunt Anwuri Oko Ye in Ebedei Ukwuole community of Ukwuani local government area of Delta State on March 15, 2025.
The kidnappers requested N30 billion as ransom; this singular incident represents 62.5 percent of all ransom demanded.
“But without coordinated strategies targeting both the crime’s profitability and its socioeconomic drivers, Nigeria risks entrenching kidnapping as a grim national industry, one that perpetuates poverty, undermines recovery, and leaves citizens hostage to a failing system,” the report added.
