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614,937 Nigerians killed, 2.2m abducted in 1yr – NBS

Katsina City News
19 Dec, 2024
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By Faruk Shuaibu, Idowu Isamotu & Baba Martins

No fewer than 614,937 Nigerians were killed and 2,235,954 others kidnapped across the country between May 2023 and April 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed.

The NBS disclosed this yesterday in its report titled “The Crime Experienced and Security Perception Survey (CESPS)” 2024; and based on the surveys conducted between May 2023 and April 2024.

The report disclosed that more than 2.2 million Nigerians were kidnapped across the country, while N2.2 trillion was paid as ransom, an average amount of N2.7 million per incident.

The report disclosed that the murder rate was highest in rural areas with 335,827 incidents and 279,110 in urban areas.

Experts believe that though there are high-profile personalities that have been abducted, it is the poor people in villages that suffered the most.

A zone-by-zone analysis of the report showed that the North West had the highest number of murder cases (206,030), followed by the North East (188,992); while the least was recorded in the South West (156,993).

In terms of kidnapping, the report showed that the North West also recorded the highest cases of kidnapping with 1,220,307 abducted, followed by the North Central (317,387) and the South East (110,432).

The report also indicated that 82.1 per cent of kidnappings were carried out in rural areas, with one per cent killed, 33 per cent released safely, and 31 per cent still awaiting the outcome of their incidents.

Of the estimated N2.2 trillion payments made to free victims, the North West recorded the highest amount paid with N1.2 trillion; while the South West recorded the least amount at N146.2 billion.

It added that about 91 per cent of kidnappings were done for ransom in the form of money or other benefits.

While 24 per cent of cases of killings in urban areas and 21 per cent were linked to political disputes, boundary disputes accounted for 25 per cent of the cases.

The report also said a total of 1,567,363 motor vehicles theft incidents were recorded nationwide with the highest in Lagos State (603,756), followed by the North West (462,295) and the North East (146,144).

A review of residence showed that residents of high-income urban areas had the least reported cases of insecurity nationwide, while low-income urban areas and rural areas had the highest.

“Households with an average income of N137.3 million annually and N2.3 million reported the least cases,” the report stated.

The NBS report also stated that Nigerians had to pay for their security with a national average of N80,878 spent on security measures over the past 12 months.

Disaggregation by zone shows that the South East spent the highest average amount at N135,358, followed by North Central N103,475 and the South West N34,408.

“Analysis by place of residence revealed that urban households spent more money on security measures (N86,997) than rural households (N72,894),” it said.

On the places that respondents avoid due to insecurity, the NBS said individuals who visited Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) spent more time outside with higher feelings of unsafety at 31.7 per cent, followed by public transport with 29.1 per cent and religious places, 7 per cent.

Security expert urges FG to address socio-economic challenges

Reacting to the NBS report, an intelligence and security expert, Abdullahi Garba, told our correspondent that addressing insecurity to curb the high loss of life should address socio-economic challenges facing the country.

“The socio-economic challenges that impact youths will always work to get such misinformed mass off the leash.

“The financial muscle to pay is key for them,” he said. “If they earn very well, only the rich, who have the financial strength to pay electricity bills of ‘Band A’ enjoy 24-hour or close to 24-hour light. The poor can no longer bear the kind of light because they can’t afford it.”

“There are a lot of instances where, after finding out this situation, those criminals also observe, they know what is going on in the society. It is just unfortunate that they pick the rich and hardly fall victims,” he said.

He asked the government to bridge the gap between the rich and poor, saying, “Majority of the kidnappers are youths. Even though they may have backing, it is the youths that do the job. If they are gainfully employed, they won’t engage in such criminal activities.”

Presidency, military, police silent

The Presidency declined comment on the report yesterday when Daily Trust reached out to the spokesman of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications Ajuri Ngelale and the Special Adviser to the President on Media, Mr. Dimeji Daniels, neither answered calls nor responded to text messages sent to their mobile telephones.

The spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said he was not aware of the report and declined comments.

The spokesperson of the Nigerian Armed Forces Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, was also contacted via WhatsApp and text message, but he replied either.