Nigerians Paid ₦2.23 Trillion As Ransom To Kidnappers In One Year — NBS Report

Nigerians paid a staggering ₦2.23 trillion as ransom to kidnappers between May 2023 and April 2024, according to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The data, published in the NBS Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey, revealed that 65% of households affected by kidnapping resorted to paying ransoms to secure the release of their loved ones.

The report stated, “The average amount paid as ransom was ₦2,670,693, with an estimated total ransom of ₦2,231,772,563,507 paid within the reference period.”

The survey also showed that kidnapping incidents totaled 2,235,954 across the country. Rural areas experienced a higher rate of kidnappings (1,668,104) compared to urban areas (567,850).

Regional Breakdown

An analysis of the data by geopolitical zones revealed that the North-West had the highest number of reported kidnapping cases, with 1,420,307 incidents.

This was followed by the North-Central region, which recorded 317,837 cases. The South-East had the lowest number of cases, with 110,432 reported incidents.

Reporting of Kidnapping Cases

The survey showed that 80.5% of households affected by kidnapping reported the incident to the police.

The South-South region had the highest reporting rate, with 100% of incidents reported.

This was followed by the North-Central zone at 89.6%, while the North-West had the lowest reporting rate at 73.9%.

When disaggregated by place of residence, urban areas recorded a higher reporting rate of 87.1%, compared to 77.3% in rural areas.

Outcome of Kidnapping Cases

The NBS report revealed the fate of kidnapping victims within the review period. It showed that 82.1% of abducted persons were released, 12.8% were killed, and 3.3% remained in captivity.

Motivation for Kidnapping

The report noted that 91% of kidnapping incidents were carried out to demand ransom in the form of money, goods, or other benefits.