Nigerians Spend ₦2.23tn on Kidnapping Ransoms in a Year: NBS Report

In a shocking revelation, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that Nigerians paid a staggering ₦2.23 trillion as ransom to kidnappers between May 2023 and April 2024. This alarming figure highlights the growing threat of kidnapping across the country. The NBS’s latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey, published on December 17, 2024, sheds light on the widespread nature of this crime and its financial toll on affected families.

Kidnapping on the Rise

According to the NBS report, 65% of households impacted by kidnapping had to pay ransoms to secure the release of their loved ones. The average ransom amount was ₦2.67 million, totaling an estimated ₦2.23 trillion in payments made over the 12-month period. The survey revealed that kidnapping incidents were most prevalent in rural areas, with over 1.6 million recorded cases, compared to around 568,000 in urban areas.

The North-West region of Nigeria recorded the highest number of kidnappings, with over 1.4 million cases, followed by the North-Central region with about 318,000 cases. The South-East, however, had the lowest incidence of kidnappings, with just over 110,000 cases.

Kidnapping Motivations and Outcomes

The report further outlined the motivations behind kidnappings, revealing that 91% of incidents were driven by the demand for ransom, whether in the form of money, goods, or other benefits. Smaller percentages of kidnappings were linked to political, criminal, or terrorist agendas, personal disputes, or custody issues.

The majority of kidnapping victims (82.1%) were eventually released, while 12.8% were killed, and 3.3% remained in captivity. Among the households that experienced kidnapping, 80.5% reported the crime to the police. The South-South region had the highest reporting rate at 100%, while the North-West had the lowest at 73.9%. Notably, urban areas reported a higher incidence of police notifications compared to rural areas.

Regional Crime Patterns

In addition to kidnappings, the survey also looked at the overall crime rates across Nigeria. The North-West region had the highest crime incidence, with a reported 14.4 million cases, followed by the North-Central region with 8.8 million. In contrast, the South-East region recorded the lowest number of crimes, with just 6.18 million incidents.

A Persistent Crisis

The troubling frequency of kidnappings in Nigeria, from mass abductions in schools to the gruesome killings of victims, has turned this crime into a thriving business for criminal gangs. Despite government assurances and efforts from security agencies, the problem remains largely unchecked, and experts believe it has worsened over the past year.

This growing crisis continues to affect countless families and communities across Nigeria, with no immediate solution in sight. The government, law enforcement agencies, and local communities will need to work together more effectively to curb the rising wave of kidnappings and bring those responsible to justice.