The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed that Nigerians paid a staggering ₦2.23 trillion in ransoms to kidnappers over a 12-month period, from May 2023 to April 2024.
This figure, highlighted in the NBS’s latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey, underscores the escalating threat of criminal activities across the country.
According to the report, approximately 51.89 million crime incidents were recorded nationwide during the period under review. The North-West region reported the highest number of incidents, with 14.4 million cases, followed by the North-Central with 8.8 million cases. The South-East region recorded the lowest, with 6.18 million cases.
Rural households were disproportionately affected, reporting 26.53 million crime incidents compared to 25.36 million in urban areas.
The survey also revealed the widespread nature of kidnapping in the country, with 4.14 million households falling victim to home robberies. Among those impacted by kidnappings, 65% reported paying ransom, with an average payment of ₦2.67 million per incident.
The report noted that confidence in law enforcement remains low, as only 36.3% of households affected by home robberies reported the crimes to the police. Many victims cited a lack of faith in police effectiveness and the belief that reporting would not yield meaningful action.
Other findings indicated that 21.4% of Nigerians experienced crime at an individual level, with phone theft being the most common offense, affecting 13.8% of the population. Notably, while 90% of phone theft victims reported their cases, only 50% were satisfied with the police response.
In cases of sexual offenses, approximately 1.4 million Nigerians were victimized, with most incidents occurring either in their homes or someone else’s residence. Alarmingly, only 22.7% of sexual assault cases were reported to the authorities.
Despite these figures, public perception of safety remains low, with 9.6% of respondents believing they are at risk of becoming victims of crime within the next 12 months. Rural areas recorded a higher fear of crime at 13%, compared to 7% in urban areas.
The report also questioned the effectiveness of security agencies in handling emergencies. Only 33.1% of respondents said security forces responded to emergency calls within 30 minutes. Local vigilante groups were noted as a more reliable source of protection in many rural communities.
