Nigerians paid a staggering N2.3 trillion in ransoms between May 2023 and April 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This alarming figure highlights the financial burden of crime in the country, as detailed in the 2024 Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS).
Key Findings of the Report
- Ransom Payments: About 65% of households affected by kidnappings paid ransoms, with an average of N2.67 million per incident.
- Crime Incidence: A total of 51.9 million crime incidents were recorded nationwide during the survey period.
- Regional Breakdown:
- The North-West reported the highest number of cases at 14.4 million, followed by the North-Central with 8.8 million.
- The South-East had the lowest crime incidence at 6.2 million cases.
- Rural areas experienced slightly more crime (26.5 million cases) compared to urban areas (25.4 million cases).
Crime Categories and Reporting
- Home Robberies: Over 4.1 million households were affected, but only 36.3% of victims reported incidents to the police. Low reporting rates were attributed to distrust in law enforcement and scepticism regarding police effectiveness.
- Personal Crimes:
- 21.4% of Nigerians reported being victims of crime.
- Phone theft was the most prevalent, accounting for 13.8% of incidents.
- Among phone theft victims, 90% reported the crime, though only half were satisfied with police responses.
- Sexual Offences: An estimated 1.4 million individuals were affected by sexual offences, highlighting another critical area of concern.
Implications
The NBS report underscores the devastating financial and social impact of crime on Nigerian households, particularly in regions plagued by high kidnapping rates. The findings point to a pressing need for improved security measures, enhanced law enforcement capabilities, and efforts to rebuild public trust in the justice system.
