August 28, 2026
No fewer than 7,825 people were abducted and at least 1,142 killed in 1,411 kidnapping incidents across Nigeria between July 2025 and June 2026, a new report by SBM Intelligence has revealed.
The report, Economics of Nigeria’s Kidnap Industry 2026, also disclosed that kidnappers demanded N22.856 billion in ransom during the period but received N7.779 billion, representing a 34 per cent collection rate.
According to the report obtained from SBM Intelligence’s website on Friday, the figures represented a sharp increase in both the scale and lethality of kidnapping compared with the previous reporting cycle, when 4,722 people were abducted in 997 incidents and 762 people were killed.
The report said the amount of ransom actually paid had more than tripled compared with the previous cycle, despite a decline in the total amount demanded.
