Kidnapping crisis of Nigeria: Armed groups build criminal economy on mass abductions
Jun 18, 2026 #Nigeria #BokoHaram #NigeriaInsurgency
Nigeria's kidnapping crisis has become a criminal economy, with armed groups including Boko
Jun 18, 2026 #Nigeria #BokoHaram #NigeriaInsurgency
Nigeria's kidnapping crisis has become a criminal economy, with armed groups including Boko Haram and bandits abducting farmers, students and travellers across the country's north. Ransom payments fund the expansion of these networks, while the recent death of a kidnapped retired army general has highlighted the scale of the threat. Hundreds of villagers have been rescued in Borno state, but hundreds more remain in captivity. Critics warn that military operations alone cannot dismantle the supply chains sustaining these groups.
Al Jazeera's Ahmed Idris reports from Maiduguri, Nigeria.
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