North’s vast terrain fuels kidnapping, weakens security response — SBM

A report by SBM Intelligence indicates that the disparity in kidnapping figures between Northern and Southern Nigeria is largely driven by the nature of the groups operating in these regions. Bandit and jihadist groups in the North, capable of fielding sizeable militias, exploit vast and sparsely populated terrains, complicating security operations. Approximately 895 civilians were killed, accounting for 78.3% of the 1,142 recorded deaths, with most fatalities occurring in the North-West.