The latest 'Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey' (CESPS) by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigerians paid a staggering N2.23 trillion in ransoms to kidnappers between May 2023 and April 2024.
The report underscored the worsening security crisis across the country and its devastating financial impact on households.
According to the survey, 65% of households affected by kidnapping were forced to pay ransoms to secure the release of their loved ones. The average ransom paid stood at N2.67 million, highlighting the heavy burden placed on victims.
The report stated, "Among households that experienced kidnapping incidents, 65.0% paid a ransom. 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 CESPS recorded a total of 51.89 million crime incidents affecting Nigerian households during the 12-month period. The North-West emerged as the most affected region, reporting 14.4 million crime cases, followed by the North-Central with 8.8 million cases. In contrast, the South-East recorded the lowest number of crime incidents at 6.18 million.
The survey further revealed that crime rates were higher in rural areas than in urban settings. Rural households experienced 26.53 million crime cases, compared to 25.36 million in urban areas.
Home robbery remained a major concern, affecting approximately 4.14 million households. Despite its prevalence, only 36.3% of affected households reported the incidents to the police, reflecting a lack of confidence in law enforcement.
The report noted, "Less than half (36.3%) of the households who were victims of home robbery reported their experience to the police."
The low reporting rates extended to kidnappings as well, with many victims believing that police intervention would not lead to meaningful action.
The survey also highlighted the prevalence of sexual offences, affecting approximately 1.4 million Nigerians. Disturbingly, many of these crimes occurred either in victims' homes (22.2%) or in the homes of others (27.7%). Reporting rates for sexual offences were alarmingly low, with only 22.7% of victims informing the police.
Phone theft emerged as the most common individual crime, affecting 13.8% of Nigerians. Despite its frequency, 90% of victims reported the incidents to law enforcement, though only half expressed satisfaction with the police response.
The survey also shed light on Nigerians' growing fear of crime, with 9.6% of respondents expressing concern about becoming victims within the next year. This fear was more pronounced in rural areas (13.0%) compared to urban areas (7.0%).
The CESPS highlighted critical gaps in the response time of security agencies. Nationally, only 33.1% of Nigerians reported that security forces responded to emergency calls within 30 minutes. Slow police responses and dissatisfaction with law enforcement performance have forced many rural communities to rely on local vigilante groups for security.
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The report further revealed, "Approximately 4 out of 10 households interacted with state or local security forces during the survey period, with 1 in 2 households contacting the Nigerian Police."
Satisfaction with police response was particularly low in cases involving livestock and crop theft, with levels at 42.9% and 42.4%, respectively.
The NBS report painted a grim picture of Nigeria's security landscape, with kidnapping, home robbery, and other crimes continuing to rise. As ransom payments soar and rural communities grapple with inadequate security, the call for improved law enforcement efficiency and trust remained urgent.
