Boko Haram and armed bandits kidnapped 7,825 people and collected N7.78 billion in ransom in one year, says a report by SBM Intelligence.
The report released by the “intelligence gathering and strategic consulting” firm on Thursday stated that between July 2025 and June 2026, increased cases of kidnapping were recorded in Nigeria.
Titled “The Economics of Nigeria’s Kidnap Industry, 2026,” the report said, “Nigeria’s kidnap industry has undergone a fundamental shift. Between July 2025 and June 2026, no fewer than 7,825 people were abducted across 1,713 kidnap and kidnap-related incidents, a 66% increase in victims from the previous cycle, with at least 1,142 people killed.”
While 7,825 people were abducted within the period under review, the report stated that N7.78 billion was paid in ransom. It also noted that ransom demand fell, but ransom collection by bandits and terrorist groups increased.
“Ransom demanded fell from ₦48 billion to ₦22.9 billion, yet the amount actually paid more than tripled, from ₦2.56 billion to ₦7.78 billion,” the report stated. “The collection rate jumped from 5.35% to 34%.”
It added, “This is not because kidnappers are getting better at negotiating. One group, the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad (JAS) faction of Boko Haram, collected 90% of all ransom paid from just eight incidents.”
According to the report, two abductions drove the year’s total: the ₦5 billion ransom for 416 captives taken from Ngoshe, Borno State, and the ₦2 billion paid for 315 pupils and staff abducted from St Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State. Between them, these accounted for ₦7 billion, almost the entire national ransom bill.
It added, “The geography remains unchanged. The Northwest leads in incidents, victims and deaths. Zamfara recorded 236 kidnapping incidents and 1,921 victims, nearly a quarter of the national total. The North accounts for 93.7% of all abducted persons, while the South’s share has shrunk to just 6.3%.”
The Nigerian government repeatedly denied paying ransom. The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, dismissed an earlier report on ransom payments for the release of Niger State schoolchildren last year as untrue and baseless.
Presidential spokespersons, Bayo Onanuga and Daniel Bwala, could not be reached for comment on the report. Messages sent to the WhatsApp numbers of the duo had yet to be replied to as of the time this story was filed.
Also, Force Spokesperson, Anietie Okokon, could not be reached for comment on the story. The Peoples Gazette was told he was not available for comments on Thursday.
A message sent to his WhatsApp number seeking a response to the report had yet to be answered as of press time.