Insecurity worsens as Nigerians paid N2.2 trillion in ransom in just one year

On Wednesday, December 18, a new report from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that Nigerians paid a staggering N2.2 trillion as ransom between May 2023 and April 2024 due to increasing insecurity across the country.

According to the latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey, households affected by kidnapping incidents contributed to this total. The survey emphasized the growing danger posed by criminal activities.

The report showed that during this period, approximately 51.89 million crime incidents were reported across Nigerian households. The North-West region recorded the highest number of incidents, with 14.4 million cases, followed by the North-Central region at 8.8 million. In contrast, the South-East region had the least, with 6.18 million incidents.

The survey also revealed that rural areas were hit harder by crime, with 26.53 million incidents reported in rural households, compared to 25.36 million in urban areas. Kidnapping remained a major concern, with 4.14 million households affected by home robberies.

“The average amount paid as ransom was N2,670,693, with an estimated total ransom of N2,231,772,563,507 paid during this period,” the report stated.

These findings highlight the severe security challenges Nigerians are facing, as the country continues to grapple with rising insecurity.