Between May 2023 and April 2024, 65% of Nigerian households affected by kidnapping paid ransoms, amounting to an average of ₦2.67 million per case and a staggering total of ₦2.23 trillion, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The latest NBS report estimates 2.2 million kidnapping cases nationally, with rural areas accounting for most incidents (1.67 million).
The North-West region reported the highest number of cases (1.42 million), while the South-East recorded the least (110,432). Among affected households, 80.5% reported incidents to the police, with urban areas showing higher reporting rates (87.1%) compared to rural areas (77.3%).
Of the kidnapping cases, 82.1% of victims were released, 12.8% were killed, and 3.3% remain in captivity. The report noted that 91% of kidnappings were motivated by ransom demands, while political, criminal, and family disputes accounted for a smaller fraction.
Overall, the North-West also recorded the highest crime rate in the country with 14.4 million cases, underscoring the growing insecurity despite government reassurances.
