A new report by SBM Intelligence has revealed a staggering increase in kidnapping incidents in Nigeria over the past year.
The consulting firm found that 7,568 people were abducted, with kidnappers demanding ransom payments totaling over US$6 million.
Experts attribute this surge to soaring unemployment rates and widespread corruption, which have created a fertile ground for criminal activities.
Despite a law banning ransom payments, the report found that over US$1 million was paid to kidnappers in 2022 alone.
The frequency and lethality of kidnapping incidents have both increased dramatically.
The number of kidnapping cases has risen sharply from previous years, with victims abducted in 1,130 incidents.
Tragically, 1,056 kidnapped victims were killed, highlighting the grave dangers associated with these crimes.
The northern part of Nigeria, which is generally poorer than the south, has experienced a particularly significant increase in kidnappings.
The number of incidents in the past year in the north exceeds the combined total for the previous two years.
Security expert and criminologist Paul Adoga emphasized the lucrative nature of the kidnapping business in Nigeria, driven by unemployment among youth and the involvement of corrupt officials.
He called for stronger government action to address these underlying issues.
The World Bank’s data on extreme poverty in Nigeria further underscores the economic instability that contributes to the rise in crime.
According to Adoga, the actual number of kidnapping incidents may be even higher due to underreporting and inadequate data collection.
President Bola Tinubu has acknowledged the urgent need to combat kidnapping and has called for stricter penalties and a coordinated effort to disrupt the financial networks that support these criminal activities.
He emphasized the importance of preventing kidnapping from becoming a permanent feature of Nigerian society.
