Boko Haram and armed bandits kidnapped 7,825 people and collected N7.78 billion in ransom within one year, according to a report by SBM Intelligence.
The report, released Thursday by the “intelligence gathering and strategic consulting” firm, said Nigeria recorded a sharp rise in kidnapping cases between July 2025 and June 2026.
Titled “The Economics of Nigeria’s Kidnap Industry, 2026,” the report said, “Nigeria’s kidnap industry has undergone a fundamental shift. Between July 2025 and June 2026, no fewer than 7,825 people were abducted across 1,713 kidnap and kidnap-related incidents, a 66% increase in victims from the previous cycle, with at least 1,142 people killed.”
Although N7.78 billion was paid in ransom during the period, ransom demands dropped while collections by bandits and terrorist groups rose.
“Ransom demanded fell from ₦48 billion to ₦22.9 billion, yet the amount actually paid more than tripled, from ₦2.56 billion to ₦7.78 billion,” the report stated. “The collection rate jumped from 5.35% to 34%.”
It added, “This is not because kidnappers are getting better at negotiating. One group, the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad (JAS) faction of Boko Haram, collected 90% of all ransom paid from just eight incidents.”
Two major abductions accounted for ₦7 billion of the total. They were the ₦5 billion ransom for 416 captives taken from Ngoshe, Borno State, and ₦2 billion paid for 315 pupils and staff abducted from St Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State.
The report said, “The geography remains unchanged. The Northwest leads in incidents, victims and deaths. Zamfara recorded 236 kidnapping incidents and 1,921 victims, nearly a quarter of the national total. The North accounts for 93.7% of all abducted persons, while the South’s share has shrunk to just 6.3%.”
The Nigerian government has repeatedly denied paying ransom. Information Minister Mohammed Idris previously described a report claiming ransom was paid for the release of Niger State schoolchildren as untrue and baseless.
Presidential spokespersons Bayo Onanuga and Daniel Bwala could not be reached for comment. Messages sent to their WhatsApp numbers had not been answered when this story was filed.
