Zamfara, Sokoto, Borno Top Nigeria's Kidnapping Victims List: Report

Nigeria's northern states continue to bear the brunt of the nation's escalating kidnapping crisis, with Zamfara, Sokoto, and Borno recording the highest numbers of victims between July 2025 and June 2026, according to a new report.

The SBM Intelligence report, titled "The Capture of Nigeria’s Kidnap Economy," documented a staggering 7,825 kidnapping victims across 1,411 incidents during the specified period. The North of the country accounted for a dominant 93.7% of all victims, underscoring the severity of the security challenge in the region.

The research firm compiled its data through a combination of desk research and one-on-one interviews. Information was sourced from publicly available materials, including government agencies, regulators, newspapers, trade associations, and research partners. The data underwent a rigorous fact-checking and editing process before its publication.

While the report highlights the grim statistics, it also provides a detailed breakdown of incidents, victims, civilian and security casualties, ransom payments, and anti-kidnap operations across various states. For instance, Benue recorded 145 victims and the highest number of anti-kidnap operations, while Kwara, despite ranking eighth in victim numbers, reported the highest ransom demand at N7.375 billion.