Security consultant Steve Okwori has highlighted the alarming scale of kidnapping-for-ransom in Nigeria, revealing that over 2 million Nigerians were abducted in the past year, with ransom payments totaling trillions of naira.
In a report shared by News Central TV on Sunday, November 30, 2025, Okwori compared the number of kidnapped Nigerians to the entire populations of some smaller West African countries. He warned that if such a wave of criminality were to hit nations with smaller populations, it could have devastating consequences.
“The number of Nigerians that have been kidnapped in the past one year is more than the population of some countries in Guinea-Bissau and others, which have less than 2 million people,” Okwori said. “If the kidnappers in Nigeria go into these countries and carry out similar acts, it could mean the countries would cease to exist.”
Okwori also revealed the financial impact on citizens, noting that from June 2024 to August 2025, Nigerians collectively paid ₦2.56 billion in ransom. He further referenced a controversial National Bureau of Statistics report, which claimed that 2.2 million Nigerians were kidnapped and ₦2.22 trillion was paid as ransom. The report was quickly challenged by the government, with the National Security Adviser holding a press briefing to dispute the figures.
The security expert emphasized that the kidnapping crisis poses an existential threat to Nigeria, calling for urgent and comprehensive measures to protect citizens and curb the influence of criminal networks.
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