The Statistician-General of the Federation, Adeyemi Adeniran, has been summoned for questioning by the Department of State Services (DSS) following the publication of a controversial survey report on ransom payments in Nigeria.
The report, which has sparked national and international outcry, claims that Nigerians paid a staggering N2.23 trillion as ransom to kidnappers between May 2023 and April 2024. The figures revealed in the “Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey” have raised serious concerns about the state of security in the country.
According to the report, 65 percent of households that were affected by kidnapping incidents resorted to paying ransoms to secure the release of their loved ones. On average, each household paid N2.67 million per incident.
Sources within the Department of State Services (DSS) have confirmed that they are scrutinizing the methodology and data used in the report. There have been claims that the figures presented may not be entirely accurate, leading to questions about the reliability of the survey.
“The report has caused a stir, and the DSS is now conducting a thorough investigation into how this data was gathered and whether it accurately reflects the situation on the ground,” a security source stated.
The survey also revealed that an estimated 51.89 million crime incidents were recorded across Nigerian households during the reference period. Of these, kidnapping emerged as one of the most alarming issues, especially in the North-West region, which reported the highest incidence of crime, with 14.4 million cases. The North-Central region followed with 8.8 million incidents.
These findings have painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s security situation, contributing to growing fears about the rising trend of kidnappings and ransom payments. The revelation of such high figures has sent shockwaves through both local and international communities, raising questions about the government’s ability to combat the growing menace.
One day after the report’s release, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which published the survey, reported that its official website had been hacked. In a statement, the Bureau announced that it was working to restore its website and advised the public to disregard any messages or reports published on the site until further notice.
“The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) wishes to inform the public that its website has been compromised. Our team is actively working to resolve the issue and restore full functionality. We advise the public to disregard any messages or reports published on the website until further notice,” the Bureau said.
This has led to even more speculation about the authenticity of the data presented in the report. Some critics believe that the hacking of the Bureau’s website may be an attempt to cover up sensitive information or to distract from the growing controversy surrounding the survey.
While the Statistician-General’s invitation by the DSS was initially misreported as an arrest, sources close to the Bureau have clarified that Adeniran was not detained. Instead, he was invited to provide clarification on the report’s findings and methodology.
“He was not arrested. He was only invited for questioning, which he honored,” one source from the Bureau confirmed. “After the questioning, he was allowed to go freely. There is no cause for alarm.”
Despite the clarification, the incident has raised eyebrows, particularly given the high-level attention the report has attracted. The government’s reaction to the survey underscores the sensitivity of the issue of kidnapping and ransom payments, which have become an increasing source of concern for Nigerians.
The controversy surrounding the ransom survey is just one example of the deepening security crisis facing the country. While the report sheds light on the financial cost of kidnapping, it also highlights the broader impact on Nigeria’s citizens, who continue to grapple with fear, trauma, and economic strain.
For many Nigerians, paying a ransom has become a sad reality of life, as kidnapping for ransom has reached unprecedented levels in recent years. The fact that so many households are resorting to this extreme measure to secure the release of their loved ones paints a disturbing picture of the state of law enforcement and security in the country.
