The Presidency has reacted to the Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), stating that the country has witnessed a significant decline in cases of kidnapping, armed banditry, and cattle-rustling.
According to the NBS report, approximately 614,937 Nigerians were murdered in one year, based on surveys conducted between May 2023 to April 2024. The report also disclosed that 2,235,954 Nigerians were kidnapped nationally, with N2.2 trillion paid as ransom, averaging ?2.7 million per incident.
Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Barr. Daniel Bwala, said the CESPS aims to ensure data transparency.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Bwala stated that: Facts speak for themselves; the country has witnessed a drastic decline in cases of incessant kidnapping in the South, armed banditry, and cattle-rustling in the North, especially North-West region”.
He attributed the reduction in insecurity to the efforts of the current administration, citing the arrest of Finland-based agent provocateur, Simon Ekpa, and the decrease in school attacks in the North.
However, the NBS has said its website was hacked, a day after releasing the crime and statistics report. The Bureau urged users to disregard any reports emanating from the compromised website.
