A new security report has laid bare the horrifying profitability of kidnapping in Nigeria, revealing that criminal gangs collected a staggering ₦2.57 billion in ransom payments from victims in just one year.
A Lucrative Criminal Enterprise
The findings, detailed in SBM Intelligence's report titled 'The Year Ahead at an Inflexion Point' released on Friday, December 19, cover the period from July 2024 to June 2025. The report starkly illustrates how abduction has evolved into a structured, profit-driven business model, thriving on weak governance and vast, unpoliced spaces.
Shockingly, while kidnappers made ransom demands totalling an estimated ₦48 billion, the ₦2.57 billion actually paid highlights the immense financial pressure on victims' families. In dollar terms, due to the naira's depreciation, this sum translates to approximately $1.66 million.
Northwest Remains the Hotspot
The data confirms that Northwest Nigeria is the undisputed epicentre of the kidnap-for-ransom crisis. This region accounted for 42.6% of all recorded incidents (425 out of 997) and a staggering 62.2% of the 4,722 abducted persons.
Zamfara State was the most affected, with 1,203 victims, followed by Kaduna and Katsina States. The report attributes this concentration to entrenched bandit networks operating with minimal resistance in poorly governed rural areas. In stark contrast, the Southwest recorded the lowest level of activity.
Mass Abductions and Deadly Violence
The terror was compounded by mass abductions, defined as incidents involving more than five victims. These accounted for about 23% of all cases, often targeting entire villages in northern states. Some victims were reportedly forced into labour on bandit-controlled farms and mining sites.
Beyond kidnapping, the period was marked by persistent violence. The report highlighted deadly attacks linked to armed groups across several regions. For instance, an attack in Katsina-Ala LGA of Benue State on March 7 left 15 people dead, while another in Tsafe LGA, Zamfara on March 13 killed 40.
Months like April and May were particularly deadly, with attacks in Plateau and Benue states killing over 100 people combined. The human cost of the insecurity is further underscored by the 762 people killed in banditry-related attacks during the review period.
The report from SBM Intelligence serves as a grim testament to the scale of Nigeria's security challenges, where criminality has not only sown fear but has also become a distressingly lucrative industry.
