Nigerians Paid ₦2.3 Trillion In Ransom Over 12 Months, Says NBS.
A report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigerians paid an astonishing ₦2.3 trillion in ransom for kidnappings over a 12-month period, highlighting the significant financial burden of crime on citizens.
The findings, drawn from the 2024 Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS), covered incidents between May 2023 and April 2024. The survey indicated that 65 per cent of households affected by kidnappings paid ransoms, with an average of ₦2.67 million per case.
During the survey period, Nigeria recorded an estimated 51.9 million criminal incidents nationwide. The North-West region had the highest crime incidence, with 14.4 million cases, followed by the North-Central with 8.8 million. Meanwhile, the South-East recorded the lowest number of cases at 6.2 million.
Rural areas were slightly more affected, reporting 26.5 million crime incidents compared to 25.4 million in urban areas.
– Over 4.1 million households experienced home robberies, but only 36.3 per cent of victims reported these incidents to the police.
– Distrust in law enforcement and doubts about police effectiveness were cited as reasons for the low reporting rates.
– At the individual level, 21.4 per cent of Nigerians reported being victims of crime, with phone theft accounting for 13.8 per cent of incidents.
Among those who experienced phone theft, 90 per cent reported the crime to the police, though only half expressed satisfaction with the response.
Sexual offences were another troubling issue, with an estimated 1.4 million individuals affected during the survey period.
The report underscores the urgent need for improved security measures and stronger trust in law enforcement. The financial and emotional toll of crime remains a pressing concern for Nigerians, prompting calls for targeted strategies to reduce crime rates and enhance public safety.
