The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed a staggering N2.2 trillion in ransom payments for kidnapping incidents across Nigeria between May 2023 and April 2024. This figure was highlighted in the 2024 edition of the Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS), released on Tuesday in Abuja.
The CESPS is a comprehensive, household-based survey aimed at assessing the prevalence of crime and the public’s perception of security across Nigeria. Targeting individuals aged 15 and above, the survey provides detailed insights into crime trends over a one-year reference period, covering both urban and rural regions.
Kidnapping and Ransom Payments: A Grim Picture
The report disclosed that 65% of households affected by kidnapping incidents paid a ransom, with an average ransom of N2.7 million per incident. The North-West zone recorded the highest ransom payments, amounting to N1.2 trillion, while the South-East accounted for the least, with N85.4 billion.
In terms of reported cases, rural areas bore the brunt of the crisis, with 1,668,104 kidnappings compared to 567,850 in urban areas. The North-West also had the highest number of reported kidnapping cases (1,420,307), followed by the North-Central (317,837), while the South-East recorded the least cases at 110,432.
National Crime Incidence and Patterns
The survey estimated a total of 51.9 million criminal incidents affecting households nationwide. The North-West led with the highest number of household crime incidences (14.4 million), followed by the North-Central (8.8 million), while the South-East reported the lowest at 6.2 million cases.
A comparison between urban and rural areas revealed that rural regions experienced a slightly higher incidence of crime, with 26.5 million cases compared to 25.4 million in urban areas.
Home Robberies and Reporting Challenges
Home robbery affected approximately 4.1 million households across Nigeria, with the North-West recording the highest cases at 1,068,430. The South-South followed with 811,231 cases, while the South-West reported the least, with 378,252 cases.
However, less than 36.3% of households reported home robbery incidents to the police. Key reasons for underreporting included a lack of confidence in law enforcement and the perception that police intervention would yield no meaningful results. Interestingly, only 0.2% cited the lack of property insurance as a reason for not reporting.
Theft and Sexual Offences: A Closer Look
At the individual level, 21.4% of Nigerians reported being victims of crime during the reference period, with phone theft being the most common at 13.8%. While 90% of phone theft victims reported incidents to the police, only 50% expressed satisfaction with the police response.
The report also revealed that an estimated 1.4 million Nigerians experienced sexual offences, with incidents occurring most often in someone else’s home (27.7%) or the victim’s home (22.2%). Sexual offences were least likely to occur at public transport stations (0.9%). Shockingly, only 22.7% of sexual offence victims reported these crimes to the police.
Perception of Safety and Crime Prevention
The survey found that 9.6% of Nigerians believe they could fall victim to a crime within the next 12 months. The perception was notably higher in rural areas, where 13% feared victimization, compared to 7% in urban areas.
The average response time of security agencies to emergencies was another focal point of the report. Nationally, 33.1% of households reported that security agencies responded to emergencies in under 30 minutes. However, reliance on local vigilante groups remained significant, particularly in rural areas where traditional security structures were often inadequate.
Interaction with Security Agencies
Around 50% of households reported having at least one interaction with the Nigerian Police, with 25.7% reporting crimes after experiencing them. Despite this, satisfaction with police responses remained low, especially for specific crimes like livestock theft (42.9%) and crop theft (42.4%).
The report emphasized the growing reliance on local vigilante groups in rural areas, which underscores the gap in formal security systems in these regions.
Implications for National Security
The findings of the CESPS provide a sobering view of Nigeria’s crime and security landscape, underscoring the urgent need for reforms in law enforcement, crime prevention strategies, and public confidence-building measures.
As the nation grapples with these challenges, the report serves as a critical tool for policymakers, security agencies, and stakeholders in addressing the systemic issues plaguing Nigeria’s security framework.
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