Nigeria Kidnapping Crisis: Why Priests, Schools, and Travelers Face Growing Risks
Catholic priests and church workers face a severe risk of abduction due to their constant travel between rural parishes and mission stations, a recent report by SBM Intels has revealed.
It notes that at least 17 priests were kidnapped between June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2025, with the highest number of incidents recorded in Borno and Kaduna states.
The SBM Intelligence report highlighted the worsening scale of Nigeria’s kidnapping-for-ransom crisis, revealing that at least 4,722 civilians were abducted in 997 incidents between July 2024 and June 2025.
The findings show how kidnapping has remained one of the country’s most persistent security threats, affecting rural communities, highways, schools, religious institutions and business owners.
The report said kidnappers demanded about ₦48 billion during the period, while confirmed ransom payments reached ₦2.56 billion, equivalent to about $1.66 million. At least 762 people were killed in kidnapping-related incidents, underlining the deadly nature of a criminal economy that has expanded beyond ransom collection into territorial control, intimidation and community destabilisation.
SBM Intelligence said the figures reflect only verified cases, suggesting the actual number of victims and payments may be higher because many families negotiate quietly with abductors to protect their relatives.
In several cases, victims were released after payments were made, while others were killed despite negotiations.
Key figures from the report
• 4,722 people abducted in one year
• 997 kidnapping incidents recorded
• 762 people killed in related attacks
• ₦48 billion demanded by kidnappers
• ₦2.56 billion confirmed as ransom paid
Northwest worst hit, South faces targeted abductions
According to the report, the Northwest remained the most violent region, driven largely by banditry, cattle rustling networks and attacks on poorly protected rural communities. States in the region have continued to record mass abductions, roadside attacks and raids on farming settlements, leaving many residents displaced or unable to cultivate their land safely.
In the South-South and Southeast, the pattern was different but equally troubling. Kidnappers increasingly targeted religious figures, traders, professionals and other victims believed to have ransom value. The report noted that these targeted abductions often created fear in communities where victims were selected because of their perceived access to money or influential networks.
Terror groups profit from ransom economy
SBM Intelligence said known Islamist terror groups received a significant share of ransom payments, raising concerns that kidnapping is helping to finance armed groups and prolong insecurity. The report said ransom proceeds can be used to buy weapons, recruit fighters, fund logistics and strengthen criminal networks operating across state borders.
In Kwara, the report also linked ransom proceeds to the Mahmuda sect, which allegedly received ₦100 million after abducting a petrol dealer and his manager in Edu Local Government Area.
Security analysts have repeatedly warned that ransom payments, while often unavoidable for desperate families, can make kidnapping more attractive to armed groups. The report’s findings suggest that the practice has become a structured business model in parts of the country, with abductors calculating ransom demands based on the victim’s status, occupation or family connections.
Priests, schools and travellers remain vulnerable
The report noted that Catholic priests and other church workers remained vulnerable to abduction because of their movement between parishes, rural communities and mission stations.
At least 17 priests were kidnapped within the period reviewed, with Borno and Kaduna accounting for the highest numbers.
Although school abductions have declined due to increased surveillance and wider public attention, insecurity continues to disrupt education, farming and local businesses in affected communities.
Parents in high-risk areas remain cautious, while some farmers avoid remote fields during planting and harvest seasons because of fear of attacks.
Report calls for stronger security response
SBM Intelligence warned that kidnapping will continue unless security forces dismantle ransom networks and the government addresses underlying drivers such as poverty, unemployment, weak law enforcement and ungoverned spaces. The report said law enforcement agencies must improve intelligence gathering, secure vulnerable transport routes and strengthen rapid response systems in communities frequently targeted by armed groups.
The report concludes that Nigeria must disrupt the financial incentives behind kidnapping while strengthening community security and economic stability. Without a coordinated response that targets both the criminals and the conditions that enable them, families, travellers, schools and religious institutions may remain exposed to further attacks.
