Kidnappers operating across Nigeria collected no less than N2.57 billion in ransom payments between July 2024 and June 2025, according to a new report by SBM Intelligence.

The report, titled “The Year Ahead at an Inflexion Point” and released on December 19, 2025, examined major economic and political trends shaping Africa in 2025. It revealed that although kidnappers demanded an estimated N48 billion within the 12-month period, only a small fraction of that sum was eventually paid by victims’ families and communities.

SBM Intelligence noted that kidnapping in Nigeria has increasingly become a structured, profit-driven criminal enterprise, sustained by weak governance, vast unpoliced rural areas and deteriorating security conditions in several regions of the country.

According to the findings, at least 4,722 people were abducted in 997 kidnapping incidents during the period under review, while no fewer than 762 people lost their lives in attacks linked to banditry and related violence.

Despite the sharp rise in ransom demands in naira terms, the report said the actual earnings of kidnappers remained relatively modest in dollar value due to the depreciation of the naira. The N2.57 billion paid translates to about $1.66 million—only slightly higher than the $1.13 million equivalent of N653.7 million recorded in 2022.

The Northwest remained the epicentre of kidnap-for-ransom activities, accounting for 425 incidents, or 42.6 per cent of cases nationwide. The region also recorded 2,938 victims, representing 62.2 per cent of all abducted persons.

Zamfara State topped the list with 1,203 victims, followed by Kaduna and Katsina states. SBM Intelligence attributed the high concentration of kidnappings in the region to expansive, poorly governed rural terrain and entrenched bandit networks capable of carrying out large-scale operations with minimal resistance.

By contrast, the Southwest recorded the lowest level of kidnapping activity, accounting for just 5.3 per cent of incidents and 3 per cent of victims during the period.

The report also highlighted a rise in mass abductions—defined as incidents involving more than five victims—which accounted for about 23 per cent of all recorded cases and were largely concentrated in northern states. In many instances, entire villages were targeted, with abducted victims reportedly forced to work on bandit-controlled farms and mining sites.

According to SBM Intelligence, such large-scale kidnappings enable criminal groups to increase pressure during ransom negotiations while spreading fear across affected communities.

Beyond kidnappings, the report documented sustained violence in other parts of the country. In the North-central region, attacks linked to armed herders persisted into March, with Benue State recording significant casualties. A single attack in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area on March 7 reportedly left 15 people dead.

Zamfara State also witnessed repeated deadly incidents, including an attack in Tsafe Local Government Area on March 13 that claimed 40 lives, as well as mass abductions in Maru Local Government Area, where 38 people were kidnapped the same day.

April and May were identified as some of the deadliest months of the year, with attacks in Plateau and Benue states killing more than 100 people combined. During the same period, mass abductions involving up to 100 victims were recorded across Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto states.