Nigerians paid N2.23 trillion in ransoms to kidnappers between May 2023 and April 2024, according to an NBS report. The survey highlights increasing crime rates, with kidnapping, home robbery, and sexual offenses rising. Rural communities suffer most, prompting calls for improved law enforcement and security measures.
A new report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigerians paid over N2.23 trillion in ransoms to kidnappers from May 2023 to April 2024. The survey, which highlights the growing security crisis, shows the severe financial toll on Nigerian families.
According to the findings, 65% of households that faced kidnapping incidents were forced to pay ransoms, with the average payment standing at N2.67 million. This staggering amount reflects the persistent threat of abductions across the country.
The Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS) also recorded a total of 51.89 million reported crime incidents, with the North-West region being the most affected, accounting for 14.4 million cases. The North-Central recorded 8.8 million, while the South-East reported the fewest at 6.18 million.
Rural areas were particularly affected, with 26.53 million crime incidents recorded, surpassing the 25.36 million reported in urban areas. However, the report also indicated a disturbing trend of low crime reporting, with fewer than half of the affected households informing the police, particularly in cases of home robbery and sexual assault.
The findings highlight the critical need for stronger law enforcement and improved police response times to combat rising crime rates and provide better protection for communities, especially in rural regions.
