…51.9m crime incidences recorded
Nigerians paid a staggering N2.3 trillion in ransom over a 12-month period, according to a report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday.
The figure, drawn from the 2024 Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS), underscores the financial toll of crimes in the country.
The survey, covering May 2023 to April 2024, revealed that 65 percent of households impacted by kidnappings paid ransoms, averaging N2.67 million per incident. During this period, an estimated 51.9 million crime incidences were recorded nationwide.
The North-West region accounted for the highest crime incidence at 14.4 million cases, followed by the North-Central (8.8 million). The South-East reported the lowest number, with 6.2 million cases. Notably, rural areas experienced higher crime rates, with 26.5 million incidents when compared to 25.4 million in urban areas.
According to the report, some robberies affected over 4.1 million households, yet only 36.3% of victims reported these incidents to the Police. The report attributed the low reporting rates to distrust in law enforcement and skepticisms over police efficacy.
At the individual level, 21.4% of Nigerians reported being victims of crime, with phone theft accounting for 13.8% of incidents.
Among phone theft victims, 90% reported to the Police, but only half expressed satisfaction with police responses. Sexual offences were another significant concern, affecting an estimated 1.4 million individuals.
