Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis remained heavily concentrated in the northern part of the country, with Zamfara, Sokoto and Borno recording the highest numbers of victims between July 2025 and June 2026, according to a report obtained from SBM Intelligence’s website on Friday.
The research firm recorded 7,825 kidnapping victims across 1,411 incidents during the period, with the North accounting for 93.7 per cent of all victims.
The figures are contained in SBM Intelligence’s August 2026 report, The Capture of Nigeria’s Kidnap Economy, which examined kidnapping incidents, victims, civilian and security casualties, ransom payments and anti-kidnap operations across the country.
According to the report, the data was compiled through desk research and one-on-one interviews, using publicly available information from government agencies, regulators, newspapers, trade associations and research partners. The data was subsequently fact-checked and edited before publication.
1. Benue — 145 victims
