Insecurity in Nigeria has reached a troubling level, with a new report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealing that Nigerians paid more than N2.2 trillion as ransom between May 2023 and April 2024.

The data, published in the Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey, shows that households affected by kidnappings bore this enormous financial burden. During this period, about 51.89 million crime incidents were reported across Nigerian households.

The report revealed that the North-West region recorded the highest number of crimes, with 14.4 million cases, followed by the North-Central region, which reported 8.8 million incidents. In contrast, the South-East had the lowest crime figures, with 6.18 million incidents.

Rural areas experienced more crime compared to urban areas, with 26.53 million incidents reported in rural households and 25.36 million in urban ones.

Kidnapping remains one of the most severe issues, with 4.14 million households experiencing home robberies. On average, victims paid N2,670,693 as ransom. Altogether, the total ransom paid during the period amounted to N2.2 trillion.

This report highlights the growing insecurity in Nigeria and the devastating impact it has on families and communities. Addressing these challenges requires urgent attention from the government, security agencies, and other stakeholders.