Urgent Action Needed as Kidnapping Rises in South East Nigeria

Kidnapping has become a significant security challenge in Nigeria's South East, with a report by SBM Intelligence revealing that at least 257 individuals were kidnapped from July 2024 to June 2025, resulting in ransom demands totaling N1.005 billion. The nature of kidnappings in this region tends to target high-net-worth individuals and clergy.

Notable cases include the abduction of Reverend Father Gerald Ohaeri from the Nsukka Diocese in Enugu in December 2024, where a ransom of N40 million was reportedly paid. Another case involved Mr. Charl Nwolisa, a high-profile businessman who was shot during an abduction in Anambra State in 2023, after which his abductors collected a ransom.

This alarming trend indicates that paying ransom no longer guarantees the safe release of victims, as evidenced by Mr. Nwolisa's experience, where he was left bleeding and had to be rushed to a nearby hospital. The situation has prompted calls for the government to take urgent action to secure the lives and properties of citizens.