Nigeria Kidnappings Surge
Related coverage: 3 countries, 3 sources
This topic isn't active right now. Last covered Aug 27, 2026. See today's headlines.
Kidnappings in Nigeria have surged by 66%, with 7,825 people abducted and 1,142 killed between July 2025 and June 2026, according to SBM Intelligence. A criminal gang released 48 children after a ransom payment, while Nigerian troops rescued a kidnapped woman and disrupted another ransom exchange. Separately, social media activist VeryDarkMan challenged the police to charge him to court over his claims about checkpoint kidnappings, after being invited to provide evidence.
Charge me to court, VeryDarkMan challenges police over checkpoint kidnapping claims
Social media activist Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, has directly challenged the Nigeria Police Force, daring them to bring him to court instead of requesting evidence for his serious allegations. Otse claims that security personnel manning checkpoints identify wealthy travelers and relay this information to kidnappers, facilitating abductions. Reacting to an invitation from the police…
Criminal gang frees 48 children after ransom payment in Nigeria
A criminal gang has released 48 children, aged seven to twelve, in central Nigeria after a ransom was paid, according to a local chief and a UN source. The children were abducted three weeks ago from …
Nigeria launches hunt for hundreds of kidnapped mosque worshippers
Nigeria has initiated a large-scale rescue operation to find approximately 600 worshippers who were kidnapped from mosques in Niger State. President Bola Tinubu ordered the military and other security…
Nigerian kidnappings surge 66%, with 1,142 killed and N7.8 billion paid in ransoms: Report
Nigeria is grappling with a severe surge in kidnappings, with a new report detailing a 66% increase in abductions over a one-year period. Between July 2025 and June 2026, SBM Intelligence documented 7…
Nigerian soldiers foil ransom payment, rescue kidnapped woman
Troops operating under Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have successfully rescued a kidnapped woman and thwarted a planned ransom payment in the Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Th…
Police invite VeryDarkMan, demand evidence of checkpoint kidnapping claims
The Nigeria Police Force has summoned social media activist Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, to present evidence supporting his serious allegations of police collusion with kidnappers. The i…