The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigerians paid ₦2.23 trillion in ransoms to kidnappers between May 2023 and April 2024.
According to the NBS’s latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey report, published on Tuesday, 65 per cent of households affected by kidnapping paid ransoms to secure the release of their loved ones.
“The average ransom amount was ₦2,670,693, with an estimated total of ₦2,231,772,563,507 paid during the reference period,” the report stated.
The report estimated 2,235,954 cases of kidnapping nationwide, with rural areas accounting for a higher number (1,668,104) than urban areas (567,850).
An analysis by geopolitical zones revealed that the North-West recorded the highest number of cases (1,420,307), followed by the North-Central (317,837). The South-East reported the lowest figure, with 110,432 cases.
Reporting and Outcomes
The survey also noted that 80.5 per cent of households affected by kidnapping reported the incidents to the police.
“Among the zones, the South-South had the highest reporting rate at 100 per cent, followed by the North-Central at 89.6 per cent, while the North-West had the lowest at 73.9 per cent,” the report added. Reporting rates were higher in urban areas (87.1 per cent) compared to rural areas (77.3 per cent).
Of the reported kidnapping cases, 82.1 per cent of victims were released, 12.8 per cent were killed, and 3.3 per cent remained in captivity.
Motives Behind the Crimes
The study found that financial gain was the primary motive in 91 per cent of kidnapping cases, with ransoms demanded in the form of money, goods, or other benefits.
“Other motives included political, criminal, or terrorist objectives (2.4 per cent), personal or family disputes (2.1 per cent), and custody disputes (0.5 per cent),” the report noted.
Crime Rates by Region
The North-West also recorded the highest overall crime rate, with 14.4 million incidents reported during the survey period. This was followed by the North-Central with 8.8 million cases. The South-East had the lowest number of reported crimes, with 6.18 million cases.
Kidnappings have become a widespread problem in parts of Nigeria, with incidents ranging from mass abductions in schools to killings of captives. Experts suggest that despite reassurances from the government and security agencies, the crime persists at alarming levels.