A shocking new report has revealed that Nigerians paid an eye-watering N2.23 trillion in ransom to kidnappers between May 2023 and April 2024.
The report, published by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), paints a disturbing picture of the worsening security crisis in Nigeria and its devastating financial toll on households.
According to the NBS survey, 65% of households affected by kidnappings had to pay a ransom to secure the release of their loved ones.
The average amount spent per kidnapping case was N2.67 million, underscoring the immense financial burden faced by victims.
“Among households that experienced kidnapping incidents, 65.0% paid a ransom. The average amount paid as ransom was N2,670,693, with an estimated total ransom of N2,231,772,563,507 paid within the reference period,” the report stated.
The total number of crime incidents reported during the 12-month period stood at a staggering 51.89 million, further highlighting the scale of the security crisis.
The North-West region was the hardest-hit, with 14.4 million crime cases recorded, followed by the North-Central with 8.8 million cases. The South-East region had the lowest number of crime incidents, with 6.18 million.
Despite the alarming rise in crime, the survey revealed a worrying trend: crime rates were higher in rural areas than in urban centers.
Rural households experienced 26.53 million crime incidents, compared to 25.36 million in urban areas.
Home robbery was one of the most prevalent crimes, affecting 4.14 million households across the country. Yet, only 36.3% of victims reported these crimes to the police, indicating a significant lack of trust in law enforcement.
“Less than half (36.3%) of the households who were victims of home robbery reported their experience to the police,” the survey revealed.
This low reporting rate extended to kidnappings as well. Many victims feared that police intervention would lead to no meaningful action or resolution.
The report also highlighted a disturbing rise in sexual offenses, with 1.4 million Nigerians affected. Shockingly, a significant portion of these crimes took place in the victims’ homes or the homes of others.
Despite the prevalence of these offenses, only 22.7% of victims reported them to the police.
Phone theft emerged as the most common individual crime, affecting 13.8% of Nigerians. However, 90% of phone theft victims reported the crimes to law enforcement, with half of them expressing dissatisfaction with the police response.
The survey also revealed a growing sense of fear among Nigerians, with 9.6% of respondents worried about becoming victims of crime in the next year. This concern was more pronounced in rural areas, where 13.0% of people feared for their safety.
The NBS report also raised concerns about the slow response times of security agencies. Nationwide, only 33.1% of Nigerians reported that security forces responded to emergency calls within 30 minutes.
The slow police response times, coupled with widespread dissatisfaction with law enforcement, have forced many rural communities to rely on local vigilante groups for protection.
“Approximately 4 out of 10 households interacted with state or local security forces during the survey period, with 1 in 2 households contacting the Nigerian Police,” the report said.
Satisfaction with police response was especially low in cases involving livestock and crop theft, with only 42.9% and 42.4% of affected households expressing satisfaction, respectively.
The NBS report paints a bleak picture of Nigeria’s security situation, with kidnapping, home robbery, and other crimes continuing to rise. As ransom payments skyrocket and rural communities struggle with inadequate security, the need for urgent reforms in law enforcement and security is clearer than ever.
Nigerians are paying a heavy price for the security crisis, and the NBS report underscores the urgent need for effective government intervention to curb these escalating crimes.
