Nigeria’s Kidnapping Crisis Deepens as Ransom Payments Near $5.8 Million

Nigeria’s worsening kidnapping crisis has taken a new turn, with a security report estimating that kidnappers collected almost $5.8 million in ransom payments between July 2025 and June 2026.

The report by SBM Intelligence said at least 7,825 people were kidnapped during the period, representing a 66 per cent increase from the previous year. It also recorded at least 1,142 deaths linked to kidnapping incidents.

According to the report, confirmed ransom payments rose to about ₦7.78 billion, although the actual amount could be considerably higher because many families do not publicly disclose ransom payments.

The report identified northern Nigeria as the main centre of the crisis. While the northwest recorded more kidnapping incidents and victims, Boko Haram accounted for the largest share of recorded ransom payments through major mass-abduction cases in the northeast.

The renewed wave of abductions has also raised concerns about the safety of schools, rural communities and major roads.

Security experts say the government needs a stronger strategy that goes beyond rescuing victims after they have been abducted. They argue that disrupting the financial networks behind kidnapping is equally important.

The latest figures are likely to increase pressure on the Federal Government as insecurity remains one of the major concerns facing Nigerians.