SBM Intelligence's 2026 report on Nigeria's kidnap industry highlights that the disparity in kidnapping figures between northern and southern Nigeria is largely due to the nature of the groups operating in each region. In the North, syndicated bandit and jihadist groups can field sizeable militias, occupy vast rural areas, and operate with limited government presence. The northern landmass, roughly four times the size of the South, provides open terrain that facilitates mass abductions. Victims are often taken to forest camps, where some are forced to work in ventures such as farming and artisanal mining.
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