Nigerians paid a staggering N2.2 trillion as ransom between May 2023 and April 2024, according to a recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The alarming figure underscores the growing challenges of insecurity faced by citizens across the country.
The data was detailed in the NBS’s Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey, which analyzed crime trends and the perception of safety within Nigerian households during the one-year period. The report revealed that kidnappings were a major contributor to the significant ransom payments.
An estimated 51.89 million crime incidents were recorded nationwide, with the North-West region experiencing the highest number at 14.4 million cases. Following closely, the North-Central region reported 8.8 million incidents, while the South-East region recorded the least, with 6.18 million cases.
Rural households appeared to be the hardest hit, recording 26.53 million incidents compared to 25.36 million in urban areas. The report emphasized that the issue of kidnapping is a key concern, with 4.14 million households falling victim to home robberies.
The survey also highlighted the financial burden on affected households. “The average amount paid as ransom was N2,670,693, with an estimated total ransom of N2,231,772,563,507 paid within the reference period,” the report stated.
