Report: Zamfara records highest kidnap rate in 1 year
Zamfara State recorded 236 kidnapping incidents involving 1,921 victims between July 2025 and June 2026, but security forces carried out only four anti-kidnap operations in the state during the period, according to a report by SBM Intelligence, a market and security intelligence gathering firm. The figures placed Zamfara at the top of Nigeria’s kidnapping […]
Zamfara State reported the highest number of kidnapping incidents in Nigeria for the year 2025-2026, with 236 cases involving 1,921 victims, according to a report by SBM Intelligence. The state accounted for 16.74% of the 1,411 kidnapping incidents and 24.55% of the 7,825 victims recorded nationwide. Despite this, security forces conducted only four anti-kidnap operations in the state during the period.
The disparity between the scale of the kidnapping crisis and the limited security response has been highlighted, suggesting that the situation has overwhelmed local security efforts. The report also noted that Zamfara recorded the highest number of victims, with 1,921 people abducted, significantly more than other states such as Sokoto, Kaduna, and Katsina.
The majority of kidnappings in Zamfara were mass abductions, constituting 92 incidents and involving 1,722 victims. The Northwest region saw the highest number of kidnapping incidents, with Zamfara alone recording 92 mass abductions. The surge in kidnappings coincided with a rise in ransom payments, with kidnappers demanding N22.856 billion and receiving N7.779 billion in ransom during the reporting period, representing a 34% collection rate.
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