Kidnapping in Nigeria: A Deeply Rooted Crisis

Kidnapping has become one of Nigeria’s most persistent security and humanitarian challenges, evolving far beyond its early roots in Niger Delta militancy and North-East insurgency. Today, it is a complex, lucrative crime industry, sustained by armed banditry, economic hardship, weak governance, and vast, ungoverned spaces. Between June 2020 and December 2024, official records show over 11,000 victims, yet surveys suggest the true number may exceed two million annually—revealing the disturbing scale of underreporting.

The Shift to Mass Kidnappings

What began as isolated abductions for ransom has transformed into mass kidnappings, particularly in Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions. Armed bandit groups now attack entire villages and schools, taking dozens or even hundreds of hostages at once to maximize ransom payouts. The porous forests and weak state presence allow these groups to operate across state boundaries with near impunity.

Political and economic disruptions have fueled this trend. In 2023, a nationwide cash scarcity temporarily disrupted ransom payments, cutting abductions by half. But by 2024, as cash returned to circulation, kidnapping incidents surged again, demonstrating the crime’s dependence on a steady flow of physical currency.

Region by Region: A Nationwide Threat

The North-West and North-Central account for about 80% of all reported kidnappings, with Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger, and Katsina states forming what some now call Nigeria’s “belt of kidnapping.” In the North-East, terrorist factions such as Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to use kidnappings for recruitment, revenue, and terror, targeting schools and villages in remote areas.

Meanwhile, the South-East sees abductions by separatist sympathizers and criminal gangs, often for political leverage or revenge. In the oil-rich South-South, legacy militant groups have shifted from pipeline attacks to kidnapping oil workers and expatriates. Even the bustling South-West and Lagos are not immune: urban kidnappings now target wealthy professionals, often using sophisticated surveillance and insider information.

Victim Profiles

In rural hotspots, everyday villagers, farmers, and schoolchildren bear the brunt. For bandits, abducting many low-income villagers at once ensures high collective ransoms. In cities like Abuja and Lagos, professionals and business owners are singled out for higher individual payouts. Social media lures, insider leaks, and “constructive kidnappings” are on the rise, ensnaring unsuspecting victims with fake job offers or romance scams.

Religious leaders and traditional chiefs are also prime targets, both for their perceived influence and their communities’ willingness to pay. Foreign nationals, though less than 1% of cases, are especially prized in the oil-producing Delta and conflict zones, where kidnappers demand large sums in foreign currency.

Perpetrator Profiles

There is no single profile of a Nigerian kidnapper. Armed bandit gangs, numbering hundreds of fighters, dominate in the North-West and North-Central. Originally cattle rustlers, they switched to kidnapping for its better payouts and lower risk. Terrorist groups in the North-East exploit kidnappings for ideological indoctrination, forced recruitment, and ransom income. In the South-South, ex-militants and cult gangs target locals and expatriates alike, while politically connected groups in the South-East use abductions to destabilize rivals or fund campaigns. Urban freelancing criminals add yet another layer, often unorganized but no less lethal.

A Weak State Response

Law enforcement has struggled to contain the threat. Underfunding, corruption, and poor investigative capacity plague police efforts. Often, so-called “rescues” are simply negotiated releases after ransom payment, with kidnappers walking free to strike again. Families sometimes pay police just to get basic support, and public trust is low. When arrests do occur, poor case preparation and overloaded courts mean many suspects never face conviction.

Policy frameworks exist on paper—some states even impose the death penalty for kidnapping—but enforcement is patchy. There is no coherent national counter-kidnapping strategy, and inter-agency coordination is weak. Meanwhile, official prohibition on ransom payments clashes with reality: families, businesses, and sometimes local officials routinely negotiate, perpetuating the cycle of crime.

The Way Forward

The Nigerian kidnapping crisis is more than a crime problem; it is a mirror reflecting wider political fragility, economic desperation, and the consequences of ungoverned spaces. Combating it demands a multi-pronged approach: well-funded and trained security forces, meaningful judicial reform to ensure convictions, a clear national strategy, and above all, economic policies that offer alternatives to crime.

Until these deeper drivers are addressed, kidnapping will remain not just a security threat, but a grim industry that feeds on fear, poverty, and lawlessness—leaving millions of Nigerians vulnerable and entire regions held hostage.

About Fortis Advisory

Fortis Advisory is committed to helping clients understand and navigate complex crisis contexts, including kidnapping and ransom risks across high-threat environments like Nigeria. Drawing on our vast experience operating in high-risk contexts, Fortis provides tailored advice, training, and incident support to help protect people and assets where it matters most.