614,937 Nigerians Killed, 2.2 Million Abducted in One Year

614,937 Nigerians Killed, 2.2 Million Abducted in One Year – NBS Report

 

A staggering 614,937 Nigerians lost their lives, and 2,235,954 others were abducted between May 2023 and April 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This grim data was revealed in the agency’s report titled “The Crime Experienced and Security Perception Survey (CESPS) 2024,” which detailed the country’s security challenges over the period.

 

Murders and Kidnappings Dominate the Statistics

The report revealed that rural areas bore the brunt of the murders, recording 335,827 incidents compared to 279,110 in urban areas. Zone-by-zone analysis showed that the North West had the highest number of murder cases (206,030), followed by the North East (188,992). The South West recorded the lowest murder rate, with 15,693 cases.

 

Regarding kidnappings, rural areas accounted for 1,668,104 of the cases, while 567,850 incidents occurred in urban centers. The North West again topped the list with 1,420,307 abductions, followed by the North Central with 317,837 cases. The South East recorded the fewest kidnappings at 110,432.

 

Ransom Payments Reach Trillions

Kidnapping for ransom dominated the statistics, with an estimated N2.2 trillion paid to secure the release of victims during the period. The North West led with N1.2 trillion in ransom payments, while the South East reported the lowest at N85.4 billion. The average ransom paid per incident was N2.7 million, with urban households paying an average of N3.7 million, compared to N2.3 million in rural areas.

 

The report highlighted that among the kidnapping cases:

– 82.1% of victims were eventually released,

– 12.8% were killed,

– 3.3% remained in captivity, and

– 1.3% had unknown outcomes.

 

Motives Behind Kidnapping

While ransom-seeking was the primary motive in 91% of cases, 2.4% were linked to political, criminal, or terrorist objectives, 2.1% to personal or family disputes, and

0.5% to custody disagreements.

 

Motor Vehicle Thefts and Perceived Insecurity

Motor vehicle theft also featured prominently in the report, with 1,587,363 vehicles stolen during the surveyed period. The North West recorded the highest number of thefts (603,756), followed by the North Central (246,329), while the South West had the fewest (140,144). Rural areas accounted for 887,002 of these incidents, while 700,361 occurred in urban areas.

 

Public perception of safety remained low, with 31.7% of respondents feeling most unsafe at Automated Teller Machine (ATM) points, followed by public transport (29.1%) and religious places (7.0%).

 

Nigerians Spend More on Security

As insecurity continues to rise, Nigerians have increasingly turned to personal security measures. The report revealed that households spent an average of N80,878 on security in the last year. The South East reported the highest average spending (N135,398), followed by the North Central (N103,476). Urban households spent more (N86,997) compared to rural households (N72,849).

 

Reporting to Authorities

Despite the alarming rates of crime, 57.6% of households that experienced motor vehicle theft reported the incidents to the police. For murder cases, 70% of households nationwide reported the crimes, with 33% stating the perpetrator was an unknown individual, while 23.4% revealed the killer was a household member. In 1% of cases, the perpetrator was identified as a spouse or lover.

The NBS report paints the unfortunate picture of Nigeria’s security situation, with alarming rates of murder, abduction, and other crimes. It highlights the financial burden of ransom payments and security expenses on households, as well as the urgent need for effective measures to combat insecurity across the country.