The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigerians paid a staggering N2.2 trillion as ransom between May 2023 and April 2024, reflecting the worsening insecurity plaguing the country.
This is according to NBS’s latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey report.
The report highlights the alarming trend of rising criminal activities, with a significant portion of the ransom payments attributed to households affected by kidnapping incidents.
The findings underscore the growing threat posed by insecurity to Nigerian citizens, as well as the economic burden it has imposed.
During the reference period, an estimated 51.89 million crime incidents were recorded across Nigerian households. The survey provides a comprehensive view of crime distribution across regions, revealing that the North-West region led with the highest number of incidents—14.4 million cases reported.
This was followed by the North-Central region, which recorded 8.8 million incidents. In contrast, the South-East region reported the least crime, with 6.18 million incidents.
Urban and rural areas displayed a stark contrast in crime rates. Rural households experienced 26.53 million crime incidents, significantly higher than the 25.36 million reported in urban areas.
This disparity highlights how rural communities face greater exposure to criminal activities compared to their urban counterparts. Additionally, home robberies were particularly severe, with 4.14 million households affected.
The report also emphasizes the devastating impact of kidnapping, with ransom payments averaging N2,670,693 per household. The cumulative ransom payment within the reference period amounted to N2,231,772,563,507, further underscoring the financial strain caused by insecurity.
This surge in insecurity has sparked concerns about the safety of citizens, the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies, and the need for urgent intervention.
With rural areas bearing the brunt of criminal activities, the government faces the challenge of developing targeted strategies to address these disparities and ensure the safety of all Nigerians.
The survey’s findings serve as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive security reforms and measures to combat the rising tide of insecurity across the country.
