“Kidnapping Epidemic: 27 Nigerian States Record Ransom Payments”
A recent report by SBM Intelligence on Nigeria’s security landscape reveals a disturbing trend of widespread kidnapping-for-ransom activities across most states in the country.
Between July 2023 and July 2024, 27 out of 36 states recorded ransom payments to kidnappers, leaving only nine states ransom-free.
The nine states that have remained ransom-free are Lagos, Kano, Sokoto, Oyo, Gombe, Taraba, Bayelsa, Bauchi, and Kebbi. This indicates that the majority of Nigerian states are grappling with the challenge of kidnapping-for-ransom.
The report highlights the alarming scale of ransom payments, with Anambra state recording the highest ransom payment of N350 million, followed by Rivers state with N67.7 million, Nasarawa with N55.5 million, and Borno with N34.2 million.
According to the report, a total of 7,568 people were abducted across the country between July 2023 and July 2024. This staggering number underscores the severity of the kidnapping crisis in Nigeria.
The report identifies several factors contributing to the insecurity, including Boko Haram’s resurgence in the Northeast, armed gangs in the Northcentral and Northwest, secessionist violence in the Southeast, and gang-related issues in the Southwest.
The kidnappers demanded a total of N10,995,090,000 (approximately $6,871,931) as ransom but
