Nigerians Paid N2.23 Trillion in Kidnap Ransoms in One Year – NBS Report
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed that Nigerians paid an astonishing N2.23 trillion in ransoms to kidnappers between May 2023 and April 2024. This alarming revelation was detailed in the agency’s latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey.
The survey estimated that Nigerian households experienced a staggering 51.89 million crime incidents during the one-year period. The North-West region reported the highest number of cases, with 14.4 million incidents, followed by the North-Central with 8.8 million. The South-East recorded the lowest figure, at 6.18 million cases.
Kidnapping: A Growing Threat
Kidnapping emerged as one of the most pressing security concerns, affecting 4.14 million households nationwide. Of these, 65% of victims reported paying an average ransom of N2.67 million, resulting in the countrywide ransom total of N2.23 trillion.
Despite the severity of the issue, underreporting remains a significant challenge. Only 36.3% of home robbery victims and a similarly low percentage of kidnapping victims reported their experiences to the authorities.
Distrust in Law Enforcement
The report attributed underreporting to a lack of trust in law enforcement agencies. Many victims doubted the ability of police to address their concerns effectively, compounding Nigeria’s struggle with escalating crime.
Sexual offences were another area where victims expressed dissatisfaction with law enforcement, with only 22.7% of incidents being reported. This underscores the broader challenges of improving the public’s confidence in the justice system.
Rural vs. Urban Insecurity
The report highlighted that rural communities bore the brunt of insecurity, recording 26.53 million crime incidents compared to 25.36 million in urban areas. In rural regions, local vigilantes were often considered more reliable than formal security agencies, reflecting the gap in law enforcement presence and effectiveness.
Most Common Crimes
Among the crimes reported, phone theft was the most prevalent, affecting 13.8% of the population. In total, 21.4% of Nigerians reported experiencing some form of crime firsthand within the period.
This report not only paints a grim picture of Nigeria’s security landscape but also underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to rebuild trust in law enforcement and curb the rising tide of crime.
