By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Nigeria’s security landscape has deteriorated significantly, with the rise of diverse violent groups exploiting the state’s weakened control.
From July 2023 to June 2024 under President Bola Tinubu’s watch, the country witnessed an alarming surge in kidnapping incidents, driven by various actors including Boko Haram, armed gangs, and secessionist groups. Amid these threats, kidnap-for-ransom has emerged as a pervasive issue, affecting nearly every region of Nigeria. Escalating Kidnapping Statistics Our research reveals that at least 7,568 people were abducted in 1,130 incidents across Nigeria during the review period. Kidnappers demanded approximately ₦11 billion (about $6.87 million) in ransom but received only ₦1.05 billion, indicating a significant drop in the amount collected. This suggests a shift in kidnapping tactics, with perpetrators becoming less specific in their victim targeting.
Most Affected States Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina have been particularly hard hit, with Zamfara recording 132 incidents involving 1,639 victims. Kaduna followed with 113 incidents and 1,113 victims, while Katsina reported 119 incidents with 887 victims. These states also have the highest number of civilian casualties. In total, 1,056 people were killed in kidnapping-related incidents, making the phenomenon increasingly lethal. On average, a fatality occurred in nearly every reported kidnapping case.
Breakdown of Incidents by State (July 2023 – June 2024): Zamfara: 132 incidents, 1,639 kidnapped Katsina: 119 incidents, 887 kidnapped Kaduna: 111 incidents, 1,113 kidnapped FCT: 70 incidents, 404 kidnapped Sokoto: 67 incidents, 487 kidnapped Borno: 63 incidents, 720 kidnapped Niger: 48 incidents, 689 kidnapped Benue: 39 incidents, 186 kidnapped Kogi: 38 incidents, 170 kidnapped Enugu: 31 incidents, 84 kidnapped Taraba: 31 incidents, 167 kidnapped Ogun: 30 incidents, 88 kidnapped Anambra: 29 incidents, 46 kidnapped Rivers: 28 incidents, 66 kidnapped Delta: 27 incidents, 48 kidnapped Kwara: 27 incidents, 80 kidnapped Nasarawa: 24 incidents, 113 kidnapped Plateau: 24 incidents, 26 kidnapped Bauchi: 22 incidents, 114 kidnapped Edo: 22 incidents, 69 kidnapped Cross River: 18 incidents, 40 kidnapped Imo: 15 incidents, 30 kidnapped Ondo: 15 incidents, 67 kidnapped Akwa Ibom: 14 incidents, 12 kidnapped Adamawa: 13 incidents, 11 kidnapped Ebonyi: 10 incidents, 29 kidnapped Kebbi: 10 incidents, 26 kidnapped Abia: 8 incidents, 40 kidnapped Oyo: 8 incidents, 26 kidnapped Yobe: 8 incidents, 9 kidnapped Lagos: 7 incidents, 11 kidnapped Ekiti: 6 incidents, 17 kidnapped Osun: 6 incidents, 23 kidnapped Kano: 4 incidents, 2 kidnapped Bayelsa: 3 incidents, 5 kidnapped Jigawa: 2 incidents, 2 kidnapped Gombe: 1 incident, 2 kidnapped
Fatalities The kidnapping crisis has resulted in a substantial loss of life. Civilians accounted for 740 deaths, while 274 kidnappers were killed. Additionally, 42 security agents lost their lives while responding to kidnapping incidents.
The rise in kidnapping incidents underscores a severe security crisis in Nigeria, exacerbated by the activities of armed groups and criminal networks. Sources: Venous Media Reports, SBM Valenco Tracke,