Over 7,500 Nigerians Kidnapped Within a Year, N11 Billion Ransom Demanded Amid Ongoing Crisis Under Tinubu Administration

According to a recent report by SBM Intelligence, a staggering 7,568 individuals were abducted in Nigeria between July 2023 and July 2024.

The report identifies several pressing security concerns across Nigeria. These include renewed activity from Boko Haram in the Northeast, the presence of armed gangs in the Northcentral and Northwest regions, rising secessionist tensions and violence in the Southeast, and escalating gang-related problems in the Southwest.

“Amid these diverse security threats, widespread kidnap for ransom has emerged as a common thread. Between July 2023 and June 2024, our research found that no fewer than 7,568 people were abducted in 1,130 incidents across the country,” the report says.

“In that same period, kidnappers demanded at least the sum of N10,995,090,000 (approximately $6,871,931) as ransom but received N1,048,110,000, a mere 9.5% of the money demanded, indicating that kidnappers have become less targeted in their victimology.

“Of the 1,130 reported kidnapping cases, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina have the highest numbers of incidents and victims.”

Zamfara state witnessed the highest number of kidnapping incidents, with a staggering 132 cases and 1,639 victims.

“Zamfara recorded 132 incidents with 1,639 victims, Kaduna had 113 incidents with 1,113 victims, and Katsina reported 119 incidents with 887 victims,” it says.

“These three states also have the highest number of civilian deaths. In the year under review in this report, kidnapping has become more lethal, with 1,056 people killed in 1,130 reported kidnap incidents. On average, someone is killed each time there is an attempted kidnap.”

The report found that Gombe, Jigawa, Bayelsa, Kano, and Osun states had relatively lower kidnapping incidents, ranging from one to six cases. Notably, the Federal Capital Territory experienced the highest ransom demands, despite not having the most incidents.

“The FCT has the highest ransom demands, followed closely by Lagos and Kaduna. When comparing geopolitical zones, the Southeast has the highest ransom paid and collection rate overall. 

“This year, as in previous years, kidnappers have continued to demand in-kind payments from victims’ families, ranging from food, drinks and cigarettes in the South to motorcycles in the North,” it says.

In recent incidents, ransom bearers have been killed, while others have been taken hostage, adding to the severity of the crisis.

“One thing that may cause problems in future is that kidnappers are increasingly breaking trust. More than four ransom bearers have been killed, and three others abducted this year, and if this trend persists, it may get more challenging to find people eager or willing to deliver ransoms on behalf of victims,” it says.

The report reveals that Nigeria witnessed 135 mass abduction incidents involving five or more victims, with a staggering 3,277 people kidnapped and 125 killed.

President Bola Tinubu’s administration allocated a staggering N3.2 trillion towards security within a single year, yet the country continues to grapple with persistent insecurity. This revelation has heightened concerns over the government’s effectiveness in tackling the security challenges and ensuring the safety of its citizens.

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