Nigerians Paid ₦2.23 Trillion in Ransoms to Kidnappers Over 12 Months – NBS
The latest “Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey” (CESPS) by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed that Nigerians paid an alarming ₦2.23 trillion in ransoms to kidnappers between May 2023 and April 2024.
The report highlighted the deepening security challenges in the country and their severe financial toll on households.
The survey revealed that 65% of households impacted by kidnappings had to pay ransoms to secure their loved ones’ release, with an average ransom of ₦2.67 million, showcasing the immense financial strain on victims.
“Among households affected by kidnappings, 65.0% paid a ransom, averaging ₦2,670,693, with a total estimated ransom of ₦2,231,772,563,507 within the reference period,” the report stated.
During the 12-month period, the CESPS recorded 51.89 million crime incidents affecting Nigerian households. The North-West region was the hardest hit, reporting 14.4 million cases, followed by the North-Central with 8.8 million. The South-East reported the fewest incidents at 6.18 million.
Crime rates were notably higher in rural areas, with 26.53 million cases compared to 25.36 million in urban settings.
Home robbery remained a significant issue, affecting 4.14 million households. However, only 36.3% of these cases were reported to the police, reflecting a lack of trust in law enforcement.
The report stated, “Only 36.3% of households affected by home robbery reported their experience to the police.”
Similarly, reporting rates for kidnappings were low, as many victims doubted the effectiveness of police intervention.
The survey also shed light on sexual offences, which affected approximately 1.4 million Nigerians. Many of these crimes occurred in homes—22.2% in victims’ homes and 27.7% in others’ homes. However, only 22.7% of victims reported the incidents to the police.
Phone theft emerged as the most prevalent crime, impacting 13.8% of Nigerians. While 90% of victims reported the thefts to authorities, only half were satisfied with the police response.
The fear of crime was significant, with 9.6% of respondents expressing concern about becoming victims in the coming year. This fear was more pronounced in rural areas (13.0%) than in urban areas (7.0%).
The CESPS emphasized delays in security agencies’ response times. Nationally, only 33.1% of Nigerians said security forces responded to emergencies within 30 minutes. Slow response times and dissatisfaction with law enforcement have led many rural communities to rely on local vigilante groups for protection.
The report revealed that “around 4 in 10 households interacted with state or local security forces during the survey period, and 1 in 2 contacted the Nigerian Police.”
Satisfaction with police responses was particularly low in cases of livestock and crop theft, with satisfaction rates of 42.9% and 42.4%, respectively.
The NBS report painted a concerning picture of Nigeria’s security situation, with rising cases of kidnapping, home robbery, and other crimes. As ransom payments escalate and rural areas struggle with insufficient security, the need for more efficient and trustworthy law enforcement has become critical.