Northern State residents pay over N362.85 million as ransom, 6843 persons abducted in one Year
By Aminu Abubakar
A SolaceBase review of SBM intelligence data has shown that fifteen Northern states paid the sum of N362.85 million as ransom to kidnappers between July 2023 and July 2024.
SBM Intelligence is an Africa-focused market/security intel-gathering consulting firm. Information from its website said it is Nigeria’s leading geopolitical research consultancy outfit, which is “particularly strong in the area of primary data gathering, and analyses of data that provides clarity relating to political, economic and social issues in Nigeria and West Africa”.
The research firm, in its latest report, titled, ‘Economics of Nigeria’s Kidnap Industry’, released on Thursday said out of the total amount of N10.9 billion demanded as ransom, N1.048bn was received.
This review shows that the highest ransom was paid in the Federal Capital Territory with the sum of N117.4 million.
Kaduna paid N32.06 million, Kogi N28.6 million, Zamfara N32.5 million, Delta N1.7 million, Kwara N7 million, Benue N16 million, Nasarawa N55.5 million, Borno N34.24 million, Niger N7 million, Katsina N17.5 million, Plateau N0.4 million, Adamawa N9.7 million, Jigawa N3 million and Yobe N600,000.
In another related development SolaceBase review of the data shows that 6847 persons were kidnapped across Northern states within the period of July 2023 to July 2024.
Zamfara recorded the highest figure of 1639 persons, Kaduna 1113, Katsina 887, Borno 720, Niger 689, Sokoto 487, FCT 404, Benue 186, Kogi 170, Taraba 167, Bauchi 114, Nasarawa 113, Kwara 80, Kebbi 26, Plateau 26, Adamawa 11, Yobe 5, Gombe 2, Jigawa 2, Kano 2.
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Despite recording the highest number of kidnappings, Zamfara state spent zero naira on internal security capital needs in the first six months of 2024.
This is despite budgeting N13 billion for the same in the 2024 fiscal year based on details on the budget performance documents.
Katsina also only spent N514 million on internal security capital expenditure in the first six months of 2024, despite budgeting N3 billion for the full-year expenditure for the same, per details on the budget performance document of the state.
This development is as Nigerians lament rising insecurity that has led to kidnappings and killings including destruction of properties and farmlands.
Nigeria has also suffered development such as more poverty, and the destruction of schools in Northern Nigeria increasing the level of poor access to schools.
Read Also:Bandits kill varsity lecturer in Katsina, abduct his children
Despite government promises to resolve the raging insecurity, data shows that kidnappers are still carrying out their activities and raking in millions in hundreds of naira from Nigerians, who are their victims.
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