Nigeria Kidnapping Crisis: Over 7,800 abducted, 1,100 killed in one year

Nigeria faces a severe kidnapping crisis, with a new report detailing staggering human and financial losses over a one-year period. Between July 2025 and June 2026, no fewer than 7,825 people were abducted and at least 1,142 were killed across the country.

These grim figures emerged from 1,411 separate kidnapping incidents, as revealed in the SBM Intelligence report titled "Economics of Nigeria’s Kidnap Industry 2026." The scale of the problem is further underscored by the vast sums demanded and paid as ransom. Kidnappers sought a total of N22.856 billion (approximately $15 million USD based on a hypothetical exchange rate) during this period.

Despite the enormous demands, victims' families and communities managed to pay out N7.779 billion (approximately $5 million USD) to secure the release of their loved ones. The report's findings paint a stark picture of a pervasive criminal industry that continues to inflict immense suffering and economic strain on Nigeria.