The Presidency addresses the NBS report on insecurity, highlighting over 614,000 deaths and 2.2 million kidnappings in a year. It claims significant progress in reducing kidnappings, banditry, and IPOB activities. Meanwhile, the NBS website was hacked, urging caution regarding its content as efforts to restore it are underway.
The Presidency has addressed the recent Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS) released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), revealing alarming figures on Nigeria's insecurity. The report indicated that 614,937 Nigerians lost their lives to insecurity between May 2023 and April 2024. Additionally, over 2.2 million people were kidnapped, with a total ransom of N2.2 trillion paid.
Reacting to the statistics, Barr. Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, emphasized the administration’s commitment to transparency and data-driven governance. He acknowledged the severity of the figures but asserted that the country had seen a significant decline in incidents such as kidnappings, armed banditry, and cattle rustling.
Bwala highlighted the reduction in attacks by IPOB and its affiliate group, the Eastern Security Network, in the Southeast. He also credited the arrest of Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based instigator, for curbing violence in the region. In the North, a notable decline in school attacks was cited as evidence of progress in combating insecurity.
Meanwhile, the NBS website was reportedly hacked shortly after publishing the CESPS report. The agency advised the public to disregard any information displayed on the site until it is restored. Efforts are ongoing to secure the platform and ensure accurate data dissemination.
The Presidency reassured Nigerians of its dedication to improving security and addressing the challenges highlighted in the report.
