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2 clusters · 25 sources · 8 days · First seen · Last updated

Kidnapping and violence crisis in Nigeria

Overview

Nigeria has experienced a significant escalation in kidnapping and civilian violence. Reports indicate a dramatic surge in abductions and murders, with one study noting that between October and December 2025, civilian kidnappings increased by 153 percent compared to the previous year.

This violence has had severe humanitarian and social consequences. Mass abductions, often involving groups of victims, have targeted schools, villages, and major roads, particularly in northern Nigeria. The instability led to school closures in eleven states and prompted President Bola Tinubu to declare a national state of emergency in November 2025.

Financial implications are also rising; ransom payments have seen a massive increase, with total payments tripling to approximately $5.8 million in a single year. The security crisis has contributed to the displacement of nearly four million Nigerians and led to the United States designating the country as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ regarding religious freedom.

Entities

Bola Tinubu · SBM Intelligence · Open Doors · Nigeria · Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad

Timeline

  1. 9 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Nigeria sees sharp rise in kidnappings and civilian murders

    A report by Open Doors shows a sharp rise in Nigerian violence in late 2025, with civilian kidnappings increasing by 153% and murders rising by 51% compared to the previous year.

  2. 16 days ago

    [CRIME] 22 sources
    Nigeria kidnapping ransoms triple to $5.8 million in one year

    A report by SBM Intelligence shows Nigerian kidnappings rose 66 percent to 7,825 victims between July 2025 and June 2026, with ransom payments tripling to approximately $5.8 million.

Sources

1-a1072.azureedge.net · africa-press.net · apr-news.fr · businessday.ng · chinesepress.com · congodefense.com · cvandaag.nl · elaosboa.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · independent.co.uk · midan.net · naijanews.com · nairametrics.com · nasuba.info · newsday.com · opendoors.nl · pressafrik.com · punchng.com · rfi.fr · sabcnews.com · sbtnews.sbt.com.br · thecitizenng.com · thenews-chronicle.com · thevoicenewsmagazine.com · tori.ng