The escalating security crisis in Northern Nigeria has taken a devastating financial turn as criminal groups responsible for the recent mass abductions of schoolchildren demand huge ransoms for the victims’ release.
While the exact figure demanded for the 25 schoolgirls abducted in Kebbi State is difficult to verify amidst conflicting reports, the kidnappers involved in the concurrent Kwara church abduction crisis demanded as high as \text{N}100 million per victim, highlighting the extremely high stakes of the ‘kidnap-for-ransom’ industry.
The demand for massive sums—far exceeding the \text{N}10 million mentioned in some unverified reports—confirms that the mass kidnappings are primarily financially motivated rather than ideologically driven. The Kebbi abduction, which saw the gunmen raid the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, and kill a staff member who resisted, sent shockwaves across the country, reviving fears reminiscent of the Chibok tragedy.
In a separate but related incident in Niger State, over 215 children and 12 teachers were taken from a Catholic school, leading to a scramble by security forces and government officials to secure their release without conceding to the criminals’ demands.
The Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, maintains a firm stance against paying ransoms, arguing that doing so only fuels the cycle of violence and provides more resources for criminal gangs. However, this policy often leaves desperate families and communities with no option but to organize fundraising efforts themselves.
The widespread security threats and high-stakes ransom demands continue to challenge the government’s mandate to protect education, with hundreds of schools across the North reportedly shut down due to the persistent risk of further attacks.
