In recent months, Nigeria has experienced a troubling increase in kidnappings for ransom, a crime that has not only disrupted lives but also instilled widespread fears.
Between January and July 2024, at least 2,140 individuals were victims of kidnapping across Nigeria, according to a tally by the PUNCH Newspapers. Data from this period paints a sobering picture
This disturbing trend reveals a landscape scarred by violence, where families are thrust into unimaginable despair, and communities plunged into a rising tide of insecurity.
Over seven months, the scourge of kidnapping affected victims across 24 states, with Zamfara and Kaduna states emerging as the most beleaguered regions.
May, in particular, saw a staggering rise in abductions, with over 500 people seized in a spree of violence that left five dead in 50 villages within Zamfara State.
This grim episode, highlighted by House of Representatives member, Bello Shinkafi, cast a shadow over the entire nation.
January began with a stark reminder of the perils faced by travellers, as 85 people were abducted along the treacherous Kaduna-Abuja highway near Katari.
A series of alarming incidents were to follow this chilling start.
In February, a terrorist gang struck on the very first day of the month, seizing 60 wedding guests in Katsina State.
March witnessed a particularly devastating blow, with the abduction of 280 pupils and teachers from Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School in Kuriga, Kaduna State.
It was a heart-wrenching event that symbolised the escalating brutality.
In April, suspected bandits targeted Kasai village in Katsina, abducting 30 children, while May’s atrocities left an indelible mark on Zamfara State.
The impact of these cruel events extended beyond the immediate anguish of the victims and their families, fueling a growing sense of insecurity throughout the country.
Amid this chaos, the families of 62 victims—accounting for 2.89 per cent of those abducted—resorted to paying a staggering ransom of N389m to secure the release of their loved ones.
