Abstract Kidnapping has emerged as one of the most pervasive internal security threats in Nigeria, and Ondo State, in Nigeria's South-West geopolitical zone, has recorded a marked increase in abductions along its highways, farming settlements, and forest fringes in recent years. While much of the existing scholarship on kidnapping in Nigeria has emphasized its economic costs and its implications for law enforcement, comparatively little empirical attention has been paid to its psychological toll on victims, families, and communities. This study addresses that gap by examining the psychological consequences of kidnapping in three local government areas of Ondo State — Akure North (Iju), Akoko South-East (Isua), and Akoko North-East (Ikare Akoko) — using a convergent mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were drawn from a structured survey of 280 usable responses (a 93% response rate from 302 questionnaires administered), while qualitative data were obtained from three focus group discussions (FGDs) with community members and security personnel, analyzed thematically. Descriptive results show that fear and anxiety (M = 4.85) and feelings of helplessness and insecurity (M = 4.18) were the most severe psychological effects reported by individuals, while post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (M = 4.16) and depression (M = 4.06) were also prominent. At the community level, widespread panic (M = 4.75) and disruption of daily routines (M = 4.63) ranked highest. Thematic analysis of the FGDs revealed persistent fear of movement, overprotective parenting, post-release trauma among survivors, secondary traumatic stress among security personnel, and a near-total absence of formal mental health support. The study concludes that the psychological burden of kidnapping in Ondo State is both widespread and largely unaddressed by existing security interventions, and recommends the integration of trauma-informed psychosocial support into community security and post-incident response frameworks.