Nigerians spent a staggering N2.2 trillion on ransoms between May 2023 and April 2024, as kidnapping and crime surged across the country, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The alarming revelation was contained in the latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey, which painted a grim picture of the worsening security situation nationwide.
The report disclosed that over 51.89 million crime incidents were recorded within the reference period, with the North-West topping the list with 14.4 million cases. The North-Central followed closely with 8.8 million cases, while the South-East recorded the least, reporting 6.18 million incidents.
Rural communities bore the brunt of these crimes, with 26.53 million incidents recorded in rural households compared to 25.36 million in urban areas. The survey highlighted kidnapping as a critical threat, with 4.14 million households affected by home robberies alone. On average, families paid N2,670,693 as ransom per incident, contributing to the colossal total of N2,231,772,563,507 within the year.
Security experts have expressed concerns over these figures, citing them as evidence of the government’s failure to address the deepening insecurity. The NBS report noted that kidnapping and other violent crimes had become prevalent in regions once considered relatively safe, reflecting a nationwide security crisis.
Calls for urgent reforms in law enforcement and improved community policing have grown louder following the release of the data. Analysts also underscored the economic strain such insecurity places on Nigerians, with the ransom payments reflecting a massive outflow of household income that could otherwise contribute to national development.
