FULL LIST: Zamfara, Sokoto, Borno top Nigeria’s kidnapping victims — Report

Nigeria's kidnapping crisis heavily impacted the northern region, with Zamfara, Sokoto, and Borno states recording the highest number of victims between July 2025 and June 2026, according to a report from SBM Intelligence. The research firm documented 7,825 kidnapping victims across 1,411 incidents, with 93.7% of all victims originating from the North.

The report, titled "The Capture of Nigeria's Kidnap Economy," was compiled through desk research and interviews, using information from government agencies, media outlets, and research partners. The data was fact-checked and edited before publication.

Benue state recorded 145 kidnapping victims in 32 incidents, followed by Kebbi with 216 victims in 52 incidents. Kwara state had the highest ransom demand at N7.375bn, despite ranking eighth in terms of victims. Kogi state reported 412 victims in 85 incidents, while Niger state recorded 496 victims in 68 incidents. Katsina state had the second-highest number of incidents at 187, with 559 victims.

Kaduna recorded 814 victims in 134 incidents, while Borno state reported 892 victims in 55 incidents. Sokoto state recorded the second-highest number of victims at 1,157 people across 179 incidents, including 76 mass-abductions involving 974 victims. Lastly, Zamfara state had the highest number of victims at 1,921 people across 236 incidents, accounting for nearly a quarter of all kidnapping victims recorded nationally.