Nigerians paid a staggering N2.2 trillion in ransom between May 2023 and April 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
This alarming figure highlights the deepening crisis of insecurity in the country, with kidnapping and criminal activities continuing to escalate. The NBS’s latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey report reveals that households affected by kidnapping incidents were forced to pay substantial amounts to secure the release of victims.
The report indicates that the North-West region bore the brunt of these crimes, recording a total of 14.4 million incidents, the highest across all regions. The North-Central region followed closely with 8.8 million reported crime incidents, reflecting a widespread insecurity that spans the country. In comparison, the South-East region reported the least number of crimes, with 6.18 million incidents recorded during the period.
Interestingly, the survey found that rural areas experienced a higher volume of criminal activities than urban areas, with 26.53 million incidents reported in rural households, compared to 25.36 million in urban areas. This discrepancy underscores the vulnerability of rural communities, where law enforcement and security resources are often scarce.
The NBS report also highlighted the severity of kidnapping incidents, noting that 4.14 million households were victims of home robberies. With an average ransom payment of N2,670,693, the total amount paid in ransom during the year was an eye-watering N2,231,772,563,507. These findings come amid the continued rise in insecurity across Nigeria, calling for urgent measures to address the growing threat of crime.
