Nigeria's Kidnapping Crisis: Jihadists or Criminal Gangs?

Sat Nov 29 2025 21:23:35 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Nigerian government cites jihadist groups as the source of recent kidnappings, yet analysts point to local criminal gangs. The context of these kidnappings reveals a complex web of influences.

In a troubling escalation of crime, Nigeria faces a wave of kidnappings attributed by the government to jihadist groups like Boko Haram and Iswap. Analysts, however, argue that local criminal gangs—referred to as 'bandits'—are the primary culprits. Despite a crackdown on ransom payments, unlawful abductions continue, raising questions about the effectiveness of government strategies for ensuring safety in the region.

The Nigerian government claims that jihadist groups Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (Iswap) are responsible for the recent surge in kidnappings across north-western and central Nigeria. Analysts, however, challenge this assertion, suggesting that many of these abductions are actually perpetrated by criminal gangs locally known as bandits.

This accusation marks the first time the government has publicly identified groups it believes are behind the kidnappings, though it has not provided any evidence to substantiate these claims.

In the last two weeks alone, there have been three significant mass kidnappings:

On November 17 in Kebbi state, where 25 people were abducted from a secondary school, though all have since been freed.

On November 18 in Kwara state, 38 people were kidnapped from a church, with all hostages later released.

On November 21 in Niger state, more than 250 children and staff members were taken from St Mary’s Catholic School, with numbers contested by officials.

Despite the ongoing kidnappings, the Nigerian government insists it has made it illegal to pay ransoms, a law purportedly flouted across various instances. Presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare stated that while the government had utilized negotiation and tactical responses, he did not confirm whether any ransom had been paid for recent kidnappings.

Analysts, such as Bulama Bukarti, refute the government’s claims, explaining that jihadist groups do not operate extensively in the north-west regions where the kidnappings are occurring, asserting that many attacks are actually executed by local armed groups devoid of any central organization. This distinction suggests that there may be underlying socio-political motivations behind these abductions, connecting to a broader narrative of local conflicts and economic disruptions.

Adding to the complexity, Fulani militia groups have been implicated in these kidnappings, as they allegedly seek to displace communities in their quest for land and resources amid illegal mining activities.

As Nigeria grapples with its kidnapping crisis, discussions have intensified about the government's treatment of the issue, its failure to protect citizens, and the humanitarian impact on those affected by both the kidnappings and the broader violence that envelops these regions.