6 August 2026 · Babura
Kidnapping in Jigawa
OpenWatch has recorded 43 reported kidnapping incidents in Jigawa State, 12 of them in the last 12 months. That is 17% of every incident recorded in the state, and ranks it 35 of 37 among the states where kidnapping is reported often enough to profile.
Incidents · 12 mo
12
Fatalities · 12 mo
3
Incidents · all-time
43
Fatalities · all-time
10
Latest reported kidnapping in Jigawa
20 June 2026 · Kiyawa
Jigawa State Police foiled a kidnapping attempt in Kiyawa LGA after two suspects threatened a victim via anonymous calls demanding N4 million, falsely claiming they had been paid N2 million to kidnap or kill him; both suspects were tracked and arrested. Separately, police foiled an armed robbery in Chuwasu Village, Taura LGA, where suspects attacked a victim with sticks and cutlasses and stole a motorcycle before fleeing on sight of a patrol team; the motorcycle was recovered.
19 June 2026 · Kiyawa
Two suspects were arrested in Kiyawa LGA, Jigawa State for allegedly conspiring to kidnap a resident, threatening the victim via anonymous phone calls and demanding ₦4 million ransom after falsely claiming they had been paid ₦2 million to kidnap or kill him. The suspects were tracked, arrested, and transferred to the SCID for investigation and prosecution.
9 June 2026 · Hadejia
The Jigawa Police Command arrested several suspects linked to kidnapping and armed robbery, disrupting a suspected kidnapping plot and recovering weapons. Ongoing investigations aim to apprehend additional members of the criminal syndicate.
29 May 2026
The Jigawa State Police Command arrested several suspected kidnappers and armed robbers during operations conducted between May 22 and May 29, 2026, recovering weapons and stolen property in the process.
23 May 2026 · Kafin Hausa
Police in Jigawa State foiled a kidnapping plot on the Jigawa–Bauchi border, arresting two suspects before any harm was done. The suspects were allegedly involved in a conspiracy to kidnap two individuals from Jama’are town.
12 May 2026
A former lawmaker was kidnapped along the Kaduna-Abuja highway and later died despite the payment of a N50 million ransom. His body was found after the ransom was paid.
4 May 2026
A former member of the House of Representatives from Jigawa State died while being held captive by bandits after being abducted along the Kaduna-Abuja highway. He was reportedly denied access to essential medication, which worsened his health condition.
4 May 2026
A former Jigawa lawmaker was kidnapped and later found dead after a ransom was paid. Another politician was released following the payment of N50 million to the abductors.
26 February 2026
A girl who was abducted in Jigawa State has been released into the custody of the governor, who stated that the legal issues surrounding her abduction will be addressed in court.
Other threats in Jigawa
About these figures
Counts cover incidents classified as kidnapping in Jigawa State, drawn from OpenWatch’s incident record, excluding retracted reports and duplicates merged into an earlier report. Figures update hourly. Last recorded: 6 August 2026.
Reported numbers are a floor, not a census. Incidents in remote areas are routinely under-reported, and classification follows how an event was described in reporting, so a low count is not a guarantee of safety. See the full Jigawa risk profile for every threat type, or the methodology for how incidents are collected and classified.
Track Jigawa live on the incident map.