Nigeria has experienced a surge in kidnappings, with nearly three dozen people abducted in three separate attacks over the weekend. Armed groups known as “bandits” carried out twin assaults on the villages of Unguwar Tsamiya and Dabawa in Kano state, kidnapping at least 25 residents. This incident is notable because kidnappings have been rare in Nigeria’s northern commercial hub.
In a separate incident, nine onion farmers were kidnapped by suspected jihadists in northeastern Borno state, the epicentre of a long‑running jihadist insurgency. Militia commander Tijjani Ahmed confirmed the abduction.
The recent spate of kidnappings, including the abduction of hundreds of schoolchildren, has prompted the United Nations to warn of a “surge in mass abductions.” Kidnappings for ransom by armed groups have been a persistent issue in Nigeria since the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok by Boko Haram jihadists. The country has witnessed a significant increase in kidnappings in recent weeks, with at least 400 people abducted in November, including over 300 schoolchildren in two assaults.
According to a report by SBM Intelligence, a security advisory firm, at least 4,722 people were kidnapped in 997 incidents between July last year and June 2025, resulting in the deaths of at least 762 individuals. The report also noted that kidnappers obtained approximately 2.57 billion naira (around $1.66 million) in ransom during this period.
The kidnap‑for‑ransom crisis in Nigeria has consolidated into a structured, profit‑seeking industry, with bandits motivated by financial gain rather than ideology. The Nigerian government has faced criticism for its handling of the security situation, with the United States threatening military intervention over the alleged mass killing of Christians. However, the government and independent analysts reject this framing, citing the complexity of the conflicts, which affect people across ethnic and religious lines.
The government has attempted to strike peace deals with bandits, but critics argue that these accords often allow the bandits to retain their arms and use truce zones as bases to attack neighboring localities.
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