August 28, 2026
The huge disparity between kidnapping figures in northern and southern Nigeria is largely driven by the nature of the groups operating in both regions, a report by SBM Intelligence has said.
According to the 2026 edition of its Economics of Nigeria’s Kidnap Industry report, syndicated bandit and jihadist groups in the North have the capacity to field sizeable militias, occupy vast rural areas and operate in territories where government presence is limited.
The report noted that geography also gives the groups an advantage, with the northern landmass roughly four times the size of the South.
It said much of the North consists of open terrain where a single raid could result in the abduction of dozens of people.
