Kaduna Ranks Second in Kidnap Cases Within One Year – SBM Report

Kaduna Ranks Second in Kidnap Cases Within One Year – SBM Report

By Austine Agbo Emmanuel, Kaduna

http://www.newsportng.com.ng Kaduna State has been ranked second in Nigeria’s kidnap crisis, according to a new report by SBM Intelligence, which recorded at least 4,722 abductions nationwide between July 2024 and June 2025.

The report, titled “Economics of Nigeria’s Kidnap Industry”, revealed that Zamfara State topped the chart with 1,203 victims, followed by Kaduna with 629, Katsina 566, and Sokoto 358. Other states affected include Niger (239), Borno (205), Kebbi (172), Kogi (158), Kwara (140), Benue (128), Enugu (123), and Ondo (92).

While Zamfara recorded the highest number of victims, Katsina led in the number of incidents with 131 cases. Kaduna followed closely with 123 incidents, while Zamfara had 113.

The study further noted that kidnappers demanded about ₦48 billion in ransom during the one-year period but received ₦2.56 billion. SBM said the wide gap between ransom demands and payments highlighted how naira devaluation is reshaping the economics of kidnapping.

At least 997 incidents were recorded nationwide, while 762 people were killed, underscoring what SBM described as the consolidation of kidnapping into a profit-driven criminal industry.

The Kaduna State Government has, however, dismissed the findings. In a statement issued on Thursday, Commissioner-Designate for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, described the report as “false, mischievous and irresponsible.”

Maiyaki argued that the publication was an attempt to discredit the Kaduna Peace Model, which he said has restored security to former flashpoints, reopened livestock markets in Birnin Gwari and Giwa after more than a decade, and recovered over 500,000 hectares of farmland previously abandoned due to insecurity.

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