Nigerians Paid Over N2.23tn in Ransoms Amid Rising Kidnapping Crisis – NBS Report

Nigerians paid a staggering N2.23 trillion in ransoms to kidnappers between May 2023 and April 2024, according to the latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS) by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The report highlights the deepening security crisis in the country, with 65% of households affected by kidnappings forced to pay an average ransom of N2.67 million to secure the release of loved ones.

“Among households that experienced kidnapping incidents, 65.0% paid a ransom,” the report stated. “The average amount paid was N2,670,693, totaling an estimated N2,231,772,563,507 within the reference period.”

Over the 12-month period, the CESPS recorded 51.89 million crime incidents affecting Nigerian households. The North-West was the most affected region, reporting 14.4 million cases, while the North-Central followed with 8.8 million. The South-East experienced the lowest number, at 6.18 million.

Rural areas bore the brunt of the crime wave, with 26.53 million incidents compared to 25.36 million in urban areas. Home robbery remained a critical concern, affecting over 4.14 million households. However, only 36.3% of victims reported incidents to the police, reflecting low confidence in law enforcement.

Sexual offences also emerged as a significant issue, impacting around 1.4 million Nigerians. A majority of these crimes occurred in private spaces, with 22.2% happening in victims’ homes and 27.7% in others’ residences. Alarmingly, only 22.7% of victims reported these crimes to the police.

Phone theft was the most common individual crime, affecting 13.8% of Nigerians. Despite high reporting rates (90%), only half of the victims expressed satisfaction with the police response.

The report revealed growing fear among Nigerians, with 9.6% of respondents expressing concern about becoming crime victims in the next year. This fear was more prevalent in rural areas (13.0%) compared to urban regions (7.0%).

Critical gaps in the responsiveness of security agencies were also highlighted. Nationally, only 33.1% of Nigerians reported that security forces responded to emergency calls within 30 minutes. Slow response times have driven 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 contacting the Nigerian Police,” the report noted.

Satisfaction with law enforcement performance was particularly low for livestock and crop theft cases, with satisfaction levels at 42.9% and 42.4%, respectively.

The NBS report underscores the urgent need for improved law enforcement efficiency and trust, as the financial and emotional toll of Nigeria’s rising insecurity continues to climb.