The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigerians spent a staggering N2.2 trillion on ransom payments between May 2023 and April 2024 due to the escalating insecurity in the country. This alarming figure, detailed in the NBS’s latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey report, underscores the growing threat of criminal activities, particularly kidnappings.
The survey indicates that households affected by kidnapping paid this massive sum, with an estimated 51.89 million crime incidents reported across Nigerian households during the period. The North-West region recorded the highest number of crimes, totaling 14.4 million incidents, followed by the North-Central region with 8.8 million cases. The South-East region had the lowest crime rate, with 6.18 million incidents.
Rural areas were found to be more vulnerable to crime, reporting 26.53 million incidents, compared to 25.36 million in urban areas. The report also revealed the significant impact of kidnappings, with 4.14 million households falling victim to home robberies.
On average, each affected household paid about N2,670,693 in ransom, leading to a total of N2.23 trillion in payments for the year. These findings reflect the continued surge in insecurity across Nigeria.
