The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that between May 2023 and April 2024, Nigerians paid a staggering ₦2.23 trillion as ransom to kidnappers. This revelation was part of the NBS’s latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey, published on Tuesday.

According to the report, 65 percent of households affected by kidnapping paid ransoms to secure the release of their loved ones. The survey indicated that the average amount paid per ransom was ₦2,670,693, culminating in an estimated total of ₦2,231,772,563,507 within the stated period.

Kidnapping incidents nationwide were estimated at 2,235,954, with rural areas experiencing significantly more cases (1,668,104) compared to urban areas (567,850). The report’s regional breakdown showed that the North-West zone recorded the highest number of kidnappings (1,420,307), followed by the North-Central zone (317,837). The South-East zone reported the lowest number of cases (110,432).

The survey revealed that 80.5 percent of households that experienced kidnapping incidents reported them to the police. Among the zones, the South-South had the highest reporting rate at 100 percent, followed by the North-Central zone at 89.6 percent. Conversely, the North-West zone had the lowest reporting rate at 73.9 percent. Disaggregated by residence, urban areas showed a higher reporting rate (87.1 percent) compared to rural areas (77.3 percent).

The report also detailed the outcomes for abducted persons. Of the reported cases, 82.1 percent of victims were eventually released, 12.8 percent were killed, and 3.3 percent remained in captivity.