A new report released by a security intelligence gathering and strategic consulting firm, SBM Intelligence, has revealed that Nigerians paid ₦1.04 billion as ransom to kidnappers in one year.
In the report released on Thursday, the company said 7,568 people were abducted in 1,130 incidents across the country between July 2023 and June this year.
It added that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has the highest ransom demands, followed closely by Lagos and Kaduna.
SBM Intelligence revealed at least one person is killed each time there was an attempted kidnap in the country.
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On the 1,130 kidnapping cases, the firm said Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina had the highest numbers of incidents and victims.
The report read: “Of the 1,130 reported kidnapping cases, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina have the highest numbers of incidents and victims. Zamfara recorded 132 incidents with 1,639 victims, Kaduna had 113 incidents with 1,113 victims, and Katsina reported 119 incidents with 887 victims.
“These three states also have the highest number of civilian deaths. In the year under review in this report, kidnapping has become more lethal, with 1,056 people killed in 1,130 reported kidnap incidents.
“In that same period, kidnappers demanded at least the sum of ₦10,995,090,000 (approximately $6,871,931) as ransom but received ₦1,048,110,000, a mere 9.5% of the money demanded, indicating that kidnappers have become less targeted in their victimology.
“When comparing geopolitical zones, the South-East has the highest ransom paid and collection rate overall.
“This year, as in previous years, kidnappers have continued to demand in-kind payments from victims’ families, ranging from food, drinks, and cigarettes in the South to motorcycles in the North.
“More than four ransom bearers have been killed, and three others abducted this year, and if this trend persists, it may get more challenging to find people eager or willing to deliver ransoms on behalf of victims.”
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