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A recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveals that Nigerians spent a staggering N2.2 trillion on ransom payments between May 2023 and April 2024, underscoring the country’s worsening security challenges.
The data detailed in NBS’s Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey attributes this amount to households affected by kidnapping incidents.
The findings highlight the increasing prevalence of criminal activities nationwide.
During the period under review, approximately 51.89 million crime incidents were reported across Nigerian households.
The North-West region recorded the highest number of cases, with 14.4 million incidents, followed by the North-Central region with 8.8 million. Conversely, the South-East region experienced the lowest crime rate, with 6.18 million cases.
The survey also revealed that rural communities bore the brunt of criminal activities, with 26.53 million incidents reported compared to 25.36 million in urban areas.
Additionally, 4.14 million households experienced home robberies during this time.
Kidnapping was identified as a particularly severe issue.
On average, households paid N2,670,693 in ransom, leading to an estimated total of N2.23 trillion in ransom payments.
The report reflects the ongoing insecurity in Nigeria and the heavy toll it continues to take on citizens and households across the country.