A recent report by SBM Intelligence reveals that Nigerians paid approximately N1.048 billion in ransom to kidnappers between July 2023 and June 2024.
The report, titled “Grim Reaping,” indicates that kidnappers across the country demanded an estimated N10.99 billion in ransom, with victims managing to pay about 9.5% of that amount.
The report highlights economic stagnation as a key factor contributing to Nigeria’s growing insecurity, which has led more people to turn to kidnapping as a means of survival. As the number of wealthy individuals shrinks, kidnappers are increasingly targeting a broader range of people. They often start with high ransom demands, which are later reduced to amounts that families or social organizations can afford. This trend suggests that the ransom paid is more reflective of Nigerians’ purchasing power than the negotiation skills of the victims’ families.
Nigeria’s security challenges have become more complex, marked by the resurgence of Boko Haram in the Northeast, armed gangs in the Northcentral and Northwest, secessionist violence in the Southeast, and gang-related disturbances in the Southwest. Amid these various threats, kidnapping for ransom has emerged as a common and widespread concern.
According to the report, at least 7,568 people were abducted in 1,130 incidents across Nigeria between July 2023 and June 2024. The states of Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina reported the highest numbers of incidents and victims, with Zamfara experiencing 132 incidents involving 1,639 victims, Kaduna 113 incidents with 1,113 victims, and Katsina 119 incidents with 887 victims. These states also saw the highest number of civilian deaths, with kidnapping becoming increasingly lethal, resulting in 1,056 deaths over the year.
The report noted that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recorded the highest ransom demands, followed by Lagos and Kaduna. The Southeast region led in both the amount of ransom paid and the rate of successful collections.
A new trend identified by the report is the demand for in-kind payments from victims’ families, which varies by region. In the South, these payments often include food, drinks, and cigarettes, while in the North, motorcycles are commonly requested.
Additionally, the analysis showed that women are more frequently targeted for kidnapping than men. While the South has seen only a modest increase in kidnapping incidents over the past two years, the North has experienced a sharp rise. The number of incidents in the North this year alone has exceeded the combined totals of the previous two years, indicating a rapidly worsening and increasingly unmanageable situation.
