The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed that 2,235,954 Nigerians were abducted by gunmen between May 2023 and April 2024.

The NBS revealed this in its 2024 Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS) released on Tuesday, December 17.

The CESPS is a household-based survey, which provides an in-depth understanding of the situation of crime in Nigeria, with a target population comprising household members 15 years and older.

The NBS said the survey was carried out to produce estimates at national and zonal levels covering both urban and rural areas for a 12-month reference period (May 2023 to April 2024).

The NBS stated that among households that experienced kidnapping incidents, 65.0 per cent paid a ransom.

It said the average amount paid as ransom for kidnapping was N2.7 million per incident with an estimated total ransom of N2.2 trillion paid within the reference period.

“The North-West reported the highest ransom paid with N1.2 trillion, while the South-East was the least with N85.4 billion,” the bureau disclosed.

The NBS noted that rural areas recorded more kidnappings with 1,668,104 reported cases than urban areas with 567,850.

Analysis by zones revealed that the North-West recorded the highest number of cases with 1,420,307, followed by the North-Central with 317,837, while the least was recorded in the South-East with 110,432.

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The NBS said nationally, an estimated 51,887,032 crime incidences were experienced by households in Nigeria.

The NBS revealed that the North-West reported the highest incidence of household crime, totalling 14,402,254, followed by the North-Central with 8,771,400.

“The South-East reported the least incidence of household crime with 6,176,031,” it stated.

The bureau disclosed that crime incidence in rural areas was higher, totalling 26,526,069, compared to urban areas at 25,360,963.

The NBS said in Nigeria, 4,142,174 households experienced home robbery incidents.

Analysis by zones showed that the North-West had the highest home robbery cases totalling 1,068,430, followed by the South-South with 811,231, while the least was recorded in the South-West with 378,252 cases.

The NBS stated that less than half of the households, at 36.3 per cent, who were victims of home robbery reported to the police.

According to the NBS, the most common reasons for not reporting crimes include a lack of confidence in law enforcement and the belief that police intervention would not result in meaningful action.

The bureau revealed that about 24 per cent of households would rather report to other authorities instead of the police, followed by those who believed the police would not do anything upon reporting at 22.7 per cent.

“Only 0.2 per cent mentioned lack of insurance of properties as a reason for not reporting to the police,” the NBS said.

It added that there was a slightly higher report of household robbery among rural dwellers at 37.8 per cent, than urban dwellers at 35.2 per cent.

The NBS said an estimated 1.4 million experienced sexual offences, which occurred mostly in someone else’s home at 27.7 per cent, across Nigeria.

“This was followed by the victim’s home at 22.2 per cent,” the bureau disclosed.

It said sexual offences were less likely to occur at a public transport station at 0.9 per cent, adding that only 22.7 per cent of victims reported to the police.

According to the NBS, public perception of safety showed that 9.6 per cent of Nigerians believed they might be a victim of crime in the next 12 months.

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“In rural areas, 13.0 per cent of the population believed they could be victims of crime and 7.0 per cent in urban areas,” the NBS noted.

The NBS revealed that security agencies’ average response time to emergencies was a key indicator of effective crime prevention.

It said: “Nationally, 33.1 per cent reported that the average response time to an emergency call by security agencies is less than 30 minutes.

“About four out of 10 households had at least one interaction with state or local security forces within the reference period.

“Also, one out of two households had contact with the Nigerian Police, and 25.7 per cent reported the incidence of crime to the police after experiencing a crime.”

The NBS disclosed that satisfaction with police responses was notably low, particularly for crimes including livestock theft at 42.9 per cent and crop theft at 42.4 per cent.

The bureau said in rural areas, many households relied on local vigilante groups.

The Star