The number of kidnappings has been increasing, up 30 percent in Africa from 2013 to 2014 and rising in the Middle East. Although about 60 percent to 70 percent of overseas kidnapping of U.S. citizens goes unreported, according to the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the U.S. State Department, last year alone more than two dozen Americans working for companies had been kidnapped in terrorism-related incidents.

The surge is due to the fact that many militant groups have emerged around the world and there is an increase in economic and political instability. Statistics tell the story.

• Of all the kidnappings that occurred in 2014, 84 percent were local nationals and 16 percent were foreigners.
• 35 percent of kidnaps were conducted in Asia, followed by Africa at 30 percent, the Americas with 21 percent, Middle East with 12 percent and Europe/Russia with 2 percent.
• Nigeria was the No. 1 country for kidnap incidents in 2014.