Mass Kidnapping in Nigeria Demonstrates Growing Unrest

Published: Tuesday, November 25, 2025 on THE SOUFAN CENTER

Approximately 250 students and 12 teachers remain in captivity following a mass kidnapping at a Catholic school in northern Nigeria’s Niger State, marking the second major abduction in the past week. The abductions illustrate that the security threat landscape across Nigeria continues to flourish through the convergence of criminal bandits, jihadist insurgents (including Boko Haram, ISWAP, and JNIM), and the government’s struggle to contain the crisis. Kidnapping for ransom has turned into a lucrative economic model, with Nigerians paying an estimated $1.42 billion to these groups from May 2023 to April 2024. The escalating security crisis has drawn international attention, with U.S. President Donald Trump threatening military intervention to address the deteriorating situation and widespread violence targeting Christians.