Nigeria’s worsening security crisis is highlighted by the National Bureau of Statistics’ (NBS) latest report, revealing 51.89 million crime incidents from May 2023 to April 2024.

The North-West region accounted for the highest number of cases at 14.4 million, followed by the North-Central with 8.8 million, while the South-East reported the lowest at 6.18 million.

Rural areas experienced a slightly higher rate of crime (26.53 million incidents) compared to urban areas (25.36 million incidents).

The financial toll was staggering, as Nigerians paid ₦2.2 trillion in ransoms, with an average ransom of ₦2,670,693. Kidnappings and home robberies were particularly prevalent, affecting 4.14 million households.

The report underscores the growing threat posed by criminal activities and has intensified calls for enhanced security measures to safeguard lives and property across the country.