Nigeria's Kidnappers Earn ₦7.7 Billion in Ransom Payments

A report by SBM Intelligence reveals that kidnappers in Nigeria amassed ₦7.779 billion in ransom payments between July 2025 and June 2026, which is 34% of the ₦22.856 billion demanded during this period. This marks a significant increase from the previous period, where only 5.35% of the demanded ransom was collected.

The total ransom demanded decreased from ₦48 billion, largely influenced by a previous high demand of ₦30 billion following the abduction of the Enuma sisters in Delta State. The report identifies the JAS faction and its allied groups as the primary beneficiaries, collecting about ₦7 billion, which constitutes roughly 90% of the total ransom paid.

Major incidents contributing to this figure include the abduction of 416 individuals in Ngoshe, Borno State, in April 2026, for which ₦5 billion was reportedly paid, and the kidnapping of 315 pupils and staff from St Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State, in November 2025, with an estimated ransom of ₦2 billion. The report emphasizes the growing connection between terrorism and financial kidnapping in Nigeria.