Kidnappers Rake In ₦7.7 Billion In Ransom Payments Across Nigeria – Report

Kidnappers operating across Nigeria collected a staggering ₦7.779 billion in ransom between July 2025 and June 2026, Naija News understands.

According to a new report by SBM Intelligence, an Africa-focused market/security intel-gathering and strategic consulting firm, the amount represents 34 per cent of the ₦22.856 billion demanded by kidnappers during the period.

The report, titled Economics of Nigeria’s Kidnap Industry 2026, showed that the percentage of ransom actually paid increased sharply compared with the previous reporting period, when only 5.35 per cent of the amount demanded was reportedly collected.

The total ransom demanded dropped from ₦48 billion recorded in the previous cycle.

SBM Intelligence, however, explained that the previous figure was heavily affected by the ₦30 billion ransom demand made following the abduction of the Enuma sisters in Delta State.

This year’s figures, the report noted, were driven mainly by large-scale abductions involving groups capable of holding hundreds of victims and exerting enough pressure to secure huge ransom payments.

The report identified the JAS faction and its allied groups as the biggest beneficiaries of ransom payments during the period.

The group reportedly collected about ₦7 billion, accounting for roughly 90 per cent of the total ransom paid across the country.

Two major mass abductions were largely responsible for the huge figure.

In April 2026, a faction reportedly led by commander Ali Ngulde abducted 416 people in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The group reportedly gave the victims’ families a 72-hour deadline and demanded ₦5 billion for their release.

SBM said the full amount was reportedly paid, making it the largest single ransom payment recorded in its database.

Another major incident occurred in November 2025 when gunmen abducted 315 pupils and staff members of St Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State.

The report said several intelligence sources estimated that about ₦2 billion was paid before the victims were released.

Together, the two incidents accounted for ₦7 billion, representing almost 90 per cent of the total ransom reportedly paid nationwide during the 12-month period.

SBM said the figures showed a worrying link between terrorism and kidnapping for financial gain.

It noted that the dominance of the JAS faction in ransom collections suggested that groups designated as terrorist organizations were becoming increasingly involved in Nigeria’s kidnapping economy.

Unaffiliated kidnappers, including groups linked to banditry, reportedly collected ₦719.4 million, representing about nine per cent of the total ransom paid.

The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), meanwhile, accounted for another ₦53 million.

At the state level, Kwara State recorded the highest ransom demand, with kidnappers demanding about ₦7.375 billion during the period.

The amount represented 32.3 per cent of the total ransom demanded nationwide.

SBM said a major part of the figure came from a single ₦3.52 billion ransom demand linked to Boko Haram activities around Woro and Wawa.

Borno State followed with ₦5.698 billion, while Kaduna recorded ₦1.459 billion.

Edo and Kogi States recorded ransom demands of ₦1.205 billion and ₦1.13 billion, respectively.

The situation looked different when the actual amount paid was considered.

Borno topped the list with ₦5.0545 billion reportedly collected from victims and their families.

Niger State followed with ₦2 billion, while Kwara recorded ₦278.3 million.

Kaduna and Sokoto recorded ₦64 million and ₦58 million, respectively.

Together, the five states accounted for 95.8 per cent of the total ransom reportedly collected across Nigeria during the period.

The report said the figures showed how a few large-scale abductions could significantly affect the country’s overall ransom statistics.

At the other end of the table, some states recorded relatively small ransom demands.

Kebbi recorded ₦5 million, followed by Abia with ₦10 million, Akwa Ibom with ₦30 million, Sokoto with ₦50 million and Imo with ₦57.5 million.

SBM said some states recorded ransom demands of only a few million naira, while little or nothing had reportedly been paid by the time of its research.

The smallest ransom payments recorded in the report were ₦70,000 in Cross River, ₦100,000 in Bauchi and ₦500,000 in Ebonyi.

According to SBM, such low payments may have been token settlements or arrangements in which the release of victims was secured with food, other supplies or other forms of assistance instead of large cash payments.