About N1.048 billion was paid in ransom to kidnappers by Nigerians between July 2023 and June 2024, according to a report released by SBM Intelligence.
The report, titled “Grim Reaping,” highlights the growing threat of kidnapping for ransom in the country, with 7,568 individuals abducted in 1,130 incidents across Nigeria during this period.
The report notes that although kidnappers initially demanded a total of N11 billion in ransom, only N1.048 billion was ultimately paid. This suggests that negotiation and other factors may have played a role in reducing the amount of ransom paid.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) saw the highest ransom demands, followed by Lagos and Kaduna. The South East led in both the amount of ransom paid and the success rate of collections. The report also revealed a trend in which kidnappers increasingly demand in-kind payments, such as food, drinks, and cigarettes in the South, and motorcycles in the North.
The states of Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina reported the highest numbers of both incidents and victims. Zamfara experienced 132 incidents with 1,639 victims, Kaduna had 113 incidents involving 1,113 victims, and Katsina recorded 119 incidents with 887 victims.
On the other end, Gombe recorded the fewest incidents with just one case, followed by Jigawa with two cases, Bayelsa with three, Kano with four, and Osun State with six cases.
