{
  "id": 12262964,
  "title": "Kidnappers demand N81.9bn, collect N11.4bn in three years – Report",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/kidnappers-demand-n81-9bn-collect-n11-4bn-in-three-years-report",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-06T00:28:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/kidnappers-demand-n81-9bn-collect-n11-4bn-in-three-years-report/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kidnappers in Nigeria demanded at least N81.9 billion from victims and families between July 2023 and June 2026, but only received N11.4 billion, according to an analysis by The PUNCH using data from SBM Intelligence. The report, which covers three annual reporting periods, found that 20,115 people were abducted during this period, highlighting the human and financial toll of the country's kidnapping crisis. The collected ransom represented about 13.9% of the total demanded, but annual payments increased more than sevenfold, from N1.05 billion in 2023/24 to N7.78 billion in 2025/26. Despite fluctuations in the number of victims and ransom demands, the amount paid more than tripled from N2.56 billion to N7.78 billion. In the latest period, the collection rate jumped to 34%, while ransom demands fell from N48 billion to N22.9 billion. The remaining ransom money was paid by one armed group, the Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihad faction of Boko Haram, which accounted for 90% of the payments in 2025/26. The report suggests that the scale of initial ransom demands does not always align with the number of people kidnapped, and the economics of the kidnapping crisis have inverted, with actual payments more than tripling despite ransom demands falling.",
  "summary": "A new report shows kidnappers in Nigeria demanded N81.9bn but collected N11.4bn in ransom between July 2023 and June 2026, abducting 20,115 people. Read More: https://punchng.com/kidnappers-demand-n81-9bn-collect-n11-4bn-in-three-years-report/",
  "key_points": [
    "Kidnappers demanded N81.9bn ransom, received N11.4bn over three years",
    "20,115 people abducted, ransom payments tripled from N2.56bn to N7.78bn",
    "Jama atu Ahlis Sunna group controlled 34% of ransom collection in latest period"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The kidnapping crisis in Nigeria has taken on a new economic dynamic, with actual ransom payments more than tripling despite falling demands, indicating a shift in the calculus of kidnappers and their victims.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}