- North West leads with 14.4m cases, North Central follows with 8.8m incidents
- Victims cite lack of confidence in law enforcement agencies
- Senators questions governors’ huge security votes
The National Bureau of Statistics has revealed that Nigerians paid a total of N2.23trillion as ransom over the 12 months between May 2023 and April 2024.
This sum was paid by households affected by kidnapping incidents, highlighting the growing threat posed by criminal activities in the country.
According to the NBS’s latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey report, an estimated 51.89 million crime incidents were recorded across Nigerian households in the reference period.
The survey showed that the North West region had the highest incidence of crime, with 14.4 million cases reported, and followed by the North-Central region with 8.8 million incidents.
In contrast, the South East region reported the least crime, with 6.18 million incidents.
The findings also revealed that rural areas were more affected by crime than urban areas, with 26.53 million crime incidents in rural households compared to 25.36 million in urban areas.
The report highlighted the severity of kidnapping, with 4.14 million households experiencing home robbery.
Of those affected by kidnappings, 65 per cent were forced to pay ransom to secure the release of victims.
The average ransom paid was N2.67m, contributing to the total of N2.23trn paid by Nigerians to criminals during the 12 months.
Despite this, only 36.3 per cent of those who experienced home robbery reported the incidents to the police, with a similarly low reporting rate for kidnapping.
The report read, “Nationally, an estimated 51,887,032 crime incidences were experienced by households. The North West (14,402,254) reported the highest incidences of crime at the household level, followed by the North Central (8,771,400), while the South East (6,176,031) reported the least. The result also shows that the crime incidence in the rural area (26,526,069) was higher than that of the urban area (25,360,963).
“In Nigeria, 4,142,174 households experienced home robbery. Less than half (36.3 per cent) of the households who were victims of home robbery reported their experience to the police. Among households that experienced kidnapping incidents, 65.0 per cent paid a ransom.
“The average amount paid as ransom was N2, 670,693, with an estimated total ransom of N2, 231,772,563,507 paid within the reference period.”
Many victims cited a lack of confidence in law enforcement and a belief that police intervention would not lead to meaningful action as the main reasons for not reporting.
The survey also revealed that 21.4 percent of Nigerians fell victim to crime at the individual level, with phone theft being the most common crime, affecting 13.8 per cent of the population.
While 90 per cent of phone theft victims reported the crimes to the police, only half of those victims were satisfied with the police response.
Also, the survey estimated that 1.4 million Nigerians were victims of sexual offences, with most incidents occurring in someone else’s home or the victim’s residence.
Only about 22.7 per cent of sexual offence victims reported the crimes to the police.
Despite the widespread nature of crime, public perception of safety remains low.
The survey found that 9.6 per cent of Nigerians believed they were at risk of becoming victims of crime within the next 12 months.
The fear of crime was higher in rural areas, where 13 per cent of the population felt vulnerable, compared to 7 per cent in urban areas.
The report also questioned the effectiveness of Nigeria’s security agencies, particularly the police, in responding to emergencies.
Only 33.1 per cent of Nigerians reported that security agencies responded to emergency calls within 30 minutes.
The survey revealed that approximately 4 out of 10 households interacted with state or local security forces during the survey period, with half of these households contacting the Nigerian Police.
However, satisfaction with police responses was notably low, especially in cases of livestock and crop theft, where only 42.9 per cent and 42.4 per cent of victims expressed satisfaction, respectively.
In many rural areas, local vigilante groups were seen as a more reliable source of security.
Senate laments worsening insecurity, questions governors’ huge security votes
Meanwhile, the Senate has expressed worry over spate of insecurity in Nigeria, calling on citizens to support governments’ efforts at tackling the menace.
For the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, there are successes recorded by security agencies which are not reported by the media.
He argued that the media thrive on bad news, emphasizing that only negative stories are deemed newsworthy.
According to Akpabio, while security agencies prevent numerous criminal activities, these successes are rarely reported, as only bad news makes headlines.
The Senate also interrogated the huge security votes that are being collected by state governors, contending that there should have been positive changes if the money is utilized for its purpose.
Akpabio made these remarks during a debate on an urgent motion regarding the ongoing banditry and killings in Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State, moved by Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro (PDP, Gombe South).
In response to contributions from former Senate Deputy Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), Akpabio stated, “When you become a governor, you will understand what happens with security votes. The number of attempts foiled by security forces surpasses the ones that succeed, but those are rarely reported. Security agencies often intercept criminals before they commit their acts, but these successes are overlooked.”
He continued, “It is true that state governments play a vital role in security, and that the responsibility for maintaining peace and order should not fall solely on the Federal Government. Every Nigerian must contribute to security, peace, and harmony.”
Earlier, Senator Ningi had questioned the role of state governors in ensuring security, pointing out that each state receives at least N500 million monthly as security votes. He stressed that the constitution designates governors as the chief security officers of their states, meaning they must take responsibility for the safety of lives and property.
The Senate has also called on the Federal Government to fund the establishment of modern ranches across the country to improve safety and enhance economic productivity for both herders and local communities.
The Senate also resolved to create laws defining the limits of economic activities under the ECOWAS treaty and to regulate movement to protect the rights and safety of Nigerians.
The Senate urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; and the Director General of the Department of State Services to investigate the recent attacks in Gombe, apprehend the perpetrators, and prosecute them.
Additionally, the Senate called for the urgent establishment of a joint police and military taskforce in Billiri to prevent further killings and requested the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency and the North East Development Commission to provide relief materials to displaced victims.
The Senate also mandated its committees on Legislative Compliance, Police Affairs, and National Security and Intelligence to ensure compliance with these resolutions and to seek long-term solutions to insecurity in the region.
Senator Yaro, who introduced the motion, called for urgent action to address the recurring banditry attacks in Billiri, particularly following the deadly assault on several villages by suspected herders on December 11, 2024. He condemned the killings, arson, and widespread displacement caused by the attackers.
In his contribution, Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West) advocated for the establishment of Federal Government-funded modern ranches, which he believes would promote safety and economic productivity for both herders and local communities.
Dickson emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to implement the ranching initiative, citing the economic challenges faced by herders who travel long distances.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) reminded the Senate of a previous agreement to hold a national public hearing to explore legislative solutions to security challenges tied to economic activities and movement.
He also stressed the need to define individual rights within the context of ECOWAS, ensuring that the rights of one person do not infringe on the rights of others.
The Senate continues to seek legislative action to address the escalating security concerns and promote national stability.
