Terror Groups and Bandits Behind Nigeria’s Kidnapping Crisis
Nigeria kidnapping. Image by Yemi Ifegbuyi on X
Journalist Mayowa Adegoke tells Al Arabiya English that religious extremists and criminal gangs are driving Nigeria’s worsening kidnapping epidemic.
By TRH Foreign Affairs Desk
New Delhi, November 27, 2025 — As Nigeria reels from a fresh wave of mass kidnappings, journalist Mayowa Adegoke has said that two main groups — religious terrorists and armed bandits — are responsible for the surge in abductions across the country.
Speaking to Al Arabiya English, Adegoke confirmed that at least 11 more people were abducted on Tuesday, adding to an already alarming toll that has seen over 300 students and staff kidnapped in recent incidents. “This is a very scary time, especially for Nigeria,” she said.
Adegoke explained that responsibility for the kidnappings is largely shared between religious extremist groups and criminal bandit gangs, sometimes loosely described as armed herdsmen or bandits. “These two groups really have been credited with all of these kidnappings,” she said, stressing that the crisis is not new but has intensified in recent months.
She noted that mass kidnappings have plagued Nigeria for years, often driven by demands for ransom. “For many months and across years, kidnappings of this nature have been happening in Nigeria. Although now there’s a lot more attention and pressure because of the numbers,” Adegoke explained.
Drawing a parallel with the 2014 abduction of schoolgirls from Chibok by Boko Haram, she said the current crisis is again attracting global focus due to the scale of the attacks. That earlier incident triggered worldwide outrage and the global “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign.
Adegoke added that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and economic hardship have fuelled the kidnapping economy, making abductions a lucrative business for criminal networks. Victims are routinely held for ransom, with families often forced to negotiate privately for their release.
Authorities continue to face mounting pressure to curb the violence as fear spreads among communities, particularly around schools and rural areas. For many Nigerians, the latest spate of abductions has once again exposed deep weaknesses in security and governance in large parts of the country.
“This is what we’re seeing again,” Adegoke said. “And it’s quite unfortunate.”
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