UN decries ‘industry’ boom as abductors collect N2.57b in one year
By : Guardian Nigeria
Date: 24 December 2025 7:43am WAT
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The United Nations (UN) has expressed concern over the spate of indiscriminate abductions of civilians by bandits in Nigeria.
Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, said the continued attacks on civilians by bandits was unacceptable.
“We are very much concerned at the fact that so many other students, young people, young men, young women, continue to be detained by armed groups,” Dujarric said. “And obviously, we’re continuing to see violence.”
Armed men abducted at least 25 students and killed a teacher in November during an attack on Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State. This was closely followed by the abduction of more than 300 schoolchildren and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Niger State. The students of Government Secondary School in Kebbi were released after spending about a week in captivity.
This is as Nigeria’s kidnap for ransom crisis generated at least N2.57 billion for criminal groups between July 2024 and June 2025, according to a new report by SBM Intelligence.
The report, titled The Year Ahead at an Inflexion Point, analysed economic and political developments that shaped Africa in 2025.
It found that kidnappers in Nigeria demanded an estimated N48 billion during the 12-month period but received N2.57 billion.
According to the report, abductions have evolved into a structured, profit-driven industry amid worsening insecurity across the country.
SBM Intelligence recorded at least 4,722 abductions across 997 incidents during the period under review, with no fewer than 762 people killed.
While ransom demands surged sharply in naira terms, the report noted that the actual value realised by kidnappers in dollar terms remained modest due to currency depreciation.
According to the analysis, the N2.57 billion paid in ransom translates to about 1.66 million dollars, only slightly higher than the estimated 1.13 million dollars equivalent of N653.7 million collected in 2022.
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